“Adapting to Worsening Climate Impacts: A Necessity in a World on the Edge of 1.5C”
In a recent report released by Europe’s climate service, it was revealed that 2024 was the hottest calendar year on record, surpassing the key limit of 1.5C above pre-industrial times. This milestone has raised concerns about the urgent need for adaptation to worsening climate impacts.
The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) confirmed that 2024 was the hottest year since records began in 1850, with temperatures reaching 1.6C above pre-industrial levels. This trend of increasing temperatures is consistent with the past decade being among the ten warmest on record, highlighting the ongoing climate crisis.
Carlo Buontempo, the director of C3S, emphasized the clear connection between rising global temperatures and the frequency of extreme weather events such as heatwaves, heavy rainfall, and destructive storms. He stressed that traditional systems for coping with climate events are being pushed to their limits, making adaptation a necessity rather than an option.
Samantha Burgess, the strategic lead for climate at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, warned that global temperatures over the past two years have averaged 1.54C, surpassing the internationally agreed target of limiting warming to 1.5C set out in the Paris Agreement. This puts the world on the brink of exceeding the crucial 1.5C threshold, with severe consequences for communities worldwide.
The impact of climate change was further underscored by a recent study that found 26 out of 29 extreme weather events in 2024 were intensified by climate change, resulting in significant human and economic losses. The need for proactive measures to adapt to these challenges is becoming increasingly urgent, as highlighted by the $140 billion in insured losses from natural disasters in 2024 reported by Munich Re, the world’s largest insurer.
Despite the grim outlook, there is hope that with concerted global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and implement adaptation strategies, the worst impacts of climate change can be mitigated. Mauro Facchini, head of Earth observation at the European Commission, emphasized the importance of taking immediate action to adapt to a changing climate and protect communities from its adverse effects.
As the world grapples with the reality of surpassing the 1.5C threshold and facing unprecedented climate challenges, the need for swift and decisive action has never been more critical. It is clear that adaptation is no longer a choice but a necessity in the face of a rapidly warming planet.