2024 is set to be the hottest year on record, with global surface temperatures rising 1.60°C above pre-industrial levels.
This marks a stark escalation in the climate crisis, as global heating continues to intensify.
Data from the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) revealed that the average global temperature for November 2024 was 1.62°C above pre-industrial levels, and scientists predict that 2024 will surpass 2023’s record of 1.48°C.
This year will also be the first to have an average temperature exceeding the 1.5°C threshold above pre-industrial levels.
Although this doesn’t signify a breach of the Paris Agreement, which is measured over a longer period, it highlights the urgent need for more ambitious climate action.
Samantha Burgess, the deputy director of C3S, stressed that “ambitious climate action is more urgent than ever” to combat the increasing impacts of climate change.
The global pledge to transition away from fossil fuels in 2023 has yet to significantly curb CO2 emissions, with 2024 emissions projected to rise.
Fossil fuel emissions must drop by 45% by 2030 to stay within the 1.5°C limit.
However, global commitments have faltered, and the recent COP29 summit failed to secure meaningful agreements on phasing out coal, oil, and gas.
Wildfires, heatwaves, and floods signal a future of worsening climate disasters.The consequences of climate change are already clear, with extreme weather events becoming more frequent and intense.
In 2024, wildfires ravaged North and South America, devastating areas like the Pantanal wetlands and the Amazon forest. These fires, fueled by severe droughts, significantly impacted air quality, creating pollution across continents.
Meanwhile, the economic costs of these extreme weather events have surged, with estimated losses reaching $320 billion in 2024—a 6% increase from the previous year.
As the climate crisis deepens, adaptation becomes crucial.
Protective measures such as dykes, dams, and floodgates are far more cost-effective than rebuilding after disasters.
Addressing climate change will require not only drastic emissions cuts but also smarter, more sustainable planning to safeguard vulnerable communities and ecosystems.