2024: A Crucial Year in Climate History

The year 2024 is set to become the warmest on record, with global temperatures exceeding 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, according to the European climate monitoring service, Copernicus. This significant milestone, previously outlined as a critical threshold in the 2015 Paris Agreement, brings renewed urgency to global climate discussions.

Experts, including Mojib Latif and Helge Gößling, emphasize the importance of this data as a pivotal moment for climate action. This record-breaking prediction comes amid a backdrop of extreme weather events and rising ocean temperatures, with October 2024 reaching the second-highest ocean temperatures on record. These changes highlight the pressing need for heightened targets at the upcoming COP29 climate conference.

The past decade has seen a consistent rise in global temperatures, averaging one degree higher than pre-industrial times, with a notable increase since 2015. October 2024 recorded an average global temperature of 15.25°C, significantly above historical averages. Samantha Burgess from Copernicus calls for more ambitious climate goals, as the persistent breach of the 1.5°C threshold signals a critical juncture in global warming trends.

Extreme rainfall and other severe weather events are becoming more frequent and intense as temperatures rise. This year’s unprecedented heat, with global temperatures 0.71°C above the 1991-2020 average, underscores the growing threat of greenhouse gases and the need for immediate action. The international community faces a pivotal decision-making moment to address these escalating climate risks effectively. As 2024 approaches, it is clear that urgent and decisive measures are necessary to combat the mounting challenges posed by global warming.