FILE – A woman tries to cool herself while waiting for a bus on a hot day in Skopje, North Macedonia, June 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski, File)
Scientists attributed the record-breaking heat to human-induced climate change, amplified by the El Nino phenomenon that continued into the first four months of 2024. Carlo Buontempo, director of C3S at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), said, “All of the internationally produced global temperature datasets show that 2024 was the hottest year since records began in 1850. The future is in our hands – swift and decisive action can still alter this trajectory.”
The findings from C3S revealed that the past decade, from 2015 to 2024, was the warmest on record. Every month from Jan to June 2024, temperatures were recorded higher than in previous months.
Risks include heatwaves & agricultural disruption: Report
Additionally, all months since July 2023 – except July 2024 – exceeded the 1.5°C threshold. A new daily global average temperature record of 17.16°C was set on July 22, 2024, further underscoring the rapid pace of climate change. Extreme weather events defined the year, with record atmospheric water vapour levels driving catastrophic heatwaves, floods and wildfires across the globe.
Canada recorded its second-highest wildfire carbon emissions, while Bolivia and Venezuela reported their highest-ever emissions. Global sea surface temperatures reached an unprecedented high of 20.87°C, further contributing to heat stress and ecological disruptions.
The report also highlighted the continued decline in sea ice levels. Antarctic sea ice extents approached record lows, while Arctic Sea ice levels fell well below average later in the year. Greenhouse gas concentrations surged, with carbon dioxide levels reaching 422 parts per million and methane concentrations rising to 1,897 parts per billion. Samantha Burgess, ECMWF’s climate strategic lead, warned, “Humanity is teetering on the edge of the Paris Agreement’s goals. These numbers are a stark reminder of the need for urgent, collaborative action.”
Reacting to the findings, Anjal Prakash, director of Bharti Institute of Public Policy at Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, said, “As south Asia grapples with unprecedented temperature rise documented in the 2024 Global Climate Highlights, it is imperative to recognise the profound impact of this crisis on our region. With 2024 marking a critical threshold, we face heightened risks, including intensified heatwaves, flooding and agricultural disruption.”
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Publish date : 2025-01-09 19:39:00
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