According to findings from the European Union’s space program, the year 2024 is on track to be the hottest on record.
This comes just ahead of the Cop29 climate summit and shortly after a controversial political shift in the United States, with voters electing a president who has previously called climate change a “hoax.”
The European report highlights that 2024 is likely to surpass the critical 1.5°C threshold above pre-industrial temperatures, a level that alarms scientists and global leaders alike.
This marks a turning point in global temperature trends, with the past 12 months averaging 1.62°C above the 1850-1900 baseline, a period that saw the beginning of widespread industrial pollution.
October 2024 alone was the second-warmest October ever recorded, trailing only 2023.
Arctic and Antarctic ice levels drop significantly, signaling the dire consequences of climate change.Despite international pledges to keep global warming under 1.5°C by 2100, current trends suggest the planet could warm by double that amount. This rapid rise in temperatures is pushing ecosystems and human societies to their limits.
Scientists warn that this extreme heat is straining our capacity to manage severe weather events and adapt to the changing climate.
Further evidence of the crisis is found in the alarming state of global ice coverage. Arctic sea ice in October 2024 was 19% below average, while Antarctic ice reached its second-lowest levels for the month.
These changes have contributed to catastrophic weather events, such as devastating floods in Spain, underscoring the urgency of a coordinated global response.
With carbon dioxide levels rising faster than ever, addressing emissions is now more critical than ever.
Experts, including Carlo Buontempo, director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, stress that global cooperation is essential for combating climate change and safeguarding the future of the planet.