“2024: The Year Climate Change Pushed the Planet to its Limits”
In 2024, the global average temperature surpassed the critical threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius for the first time, marking it as the hottest year on record. This increase in temperature was fueled by the ongoing climate crisis, leading to a series of extreme weather events around the world.
Experts from the United Nations World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirmed that the global average temperature in 2024 was 1.55 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average. This rise in temperature had devastating impacts, including destructive wildfires, melting sea ice, and retreating glaciers.
The 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold is a key target outlined in the 2015 Paris Agreement, with the overall goal of keeping global temperatures “well below” two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. However, the WMO warned that the Paris Agreement was in “grave danger” as the long-term temperature goals were being exceeded.
Data from various international datasets analyzed by WMO showed that four out of six datasets reported global average temperatures above 1.5 degrees Celsius in 2024. This alarming trend indicates the urgent need for increased climate action to mitigate the impacts of global warming.
The catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles were cited as an example of how climate change worsened natural disasters. The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that a record 44 percent of the Earth experienced “strong” to “extreme heat stress” in July 2024, highlighting the widespread impact of rising temperatures.
Ocean warming was also identified as a significant factor contributing to the record high temperatures in 2024. The ocean stores a vast amount of excess heat generated by global warming, making it a critical indicator of climate change. The upper part of the ocean became warmer by a significant margin, emphasizing the need for urgent action to address climate change.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for updated national climate action plans in 2025 to limit the long-term temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. He emphasized the importance of taking immediate and decisive action to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
Overall, the findings from the WMO underscore the urgent need for global cooperation and decisive action to address the climate crisis. The record-breaking temperatures in 2024 serve as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by climate change and the need for immediate action to safeguard the planet for future generations.