The Copernicus Climate Change Service warns that 2024 is likely to become the hottest year on record, surpassing 2023, driven by anthropogenic climate change. This projection signals the first time global temperatures may exceed the 1.5 °C increase threshold since pre-industrial times. Intense weather events in 2024 reaffirm the urgent need for substantial climate action, particularly as COP29 approaches.
According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) of the European Union, 2024 is on course to be the hottest year on record globally, surpassing the previous high set in 2023. With data collected between January and October indicating a sharp rise in global temperatures, only an extraordinary cooling in the final months could avert this record-setting year. C3S Director Carlo Buontempo attributed this alarming trend to climate change, noting that warming is a global issue affecting all continents and ocean basins. Furthermore, 2024 is projected to be the first year to exceed the critical 1.5 °C increase compared to pre-industrial levels, a significant milestone that was once perceived as a distant possibility. Climate scientist Sonia Seneviratne highlighted that the lack of effective carbon emission reductions jeopardizes the goals set by the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit average warming to 1.5 °C by 2030. The consequences of rising temperatures have already manifested in catastrophic events globally, including severe flooding in Bangladesh and wildfires in Peru.
The rising global temperatures are largely driven by human-induced climate change, a phenomenon that is evidenced by unprecedented climate events occurring worldwide. The global community has been alerted to the critical 1.5 °C threshold, which is integral to the goals of the Paris Agreement. As governments prepare for COP29 in Azerbaijan, the urgency of addressing climate inaction has become more pronounced, as leaders discuss the necessary funding and measures to combat climate change effectively.
The prediction by C3S that 2024 will likely set a record as the warmest year underscores the escalating impact of climate change on the planet. With the imminent crossing of the 1.5 °C threshold, there is an urgent need for global leaders to take decisive action to meet the targets of the Paris Agreement. Failure to do so could lead to severe climate-related disasters, attesting to the critical nature of the upcoming COP29 summit discussions.
Original Source: www.wionews.com
