The year 2024 is projected to be the hottest on record, with average global temperatures exceeding 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. This follows significant climate impacts, including severe weather events worldwide. Despite pledges for net-zero emissions, global CO2 emissions are set to hit a record high. Climate scientists highlight ongoing threats associated with extreme weather patterns, independent of short-term climate phenomenon changes.
According to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), the year 2024 is projected to become the hottest on record, surpassing previous high temperatures noted since the inception of monitoring. In a concerning forecast, these elevated temperature trends are expected to persist well into early 2025. This alarming report emerges shortly after major climate negotiations that resulted in a $300 billion financial commitment aimed at addressing climate change, although many critics from developing nations have labeled this amount as inadequate given the escalating costs associated with climate-induced catastrophes.
The data collected from January to November of this year confirms that 2024 will reach unprecedented average global temperatures—a critical threshold of exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels (1850-1900). Previous records denote 2023 as the hottest year prior to this.
Extreme weather phenomena have significantly affected various regions globally in 2024, manifesting as severe droughts in Italy and parts of South America, fatal floods in areas such as Nepal, Sudan, and Europe, and deadly heatwaves in Mexico, Mali, and Saudi Arabia, which have resulted in thousands of fatalities. Cyclones have also wreaked havoc in the United States and the Philippines, with scientific studies attributing the causal factors to human-induced climate change.
Last month was noted as the second warmest November ever recorded, following November 2023. Julien Nicolas, a Copernicus climate researcher, noted that “We’re still in near-record-high territory for global temperatures, and that’s likely to stay at least for the next few months.” The central driver of climate change is the surge in carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion.
Despite numerous governmental pledges to achieve net-zero emissions, global CO2 emissions are expected to reach an all-time high this year. Additionally, scientists are carefully observing whether the La Nina phenomenon, which is characterized by cooler surface ocean temperatures, might re-emerge in 2025. If it does, it may temporarily lower global temperatures; however, it would not avert the long-term warming trend attributed to greenhouse gas emissions. The world is currently in a neutral climate state following the conclusion of an El Nino cycle earlier this year.
Dr. Friederike Otto of Imperial College London cautioned that “While 2025 might be slightly cooler than 2024, if a La Nina event develops, this does not mean temperatures will be ‘safe’ or ‘normal.’ We will still experience high temperatures, resulting in dangerous heatwaves, droughts, wildfires and tropical cyclones.” The records maintained by C3S date back to 1940 and are corroborated with global temperature datasets extending to 1850.
The increasing severity of climate-related events and rapid global warming has become an urgent focus for scientists and policymakers alike. As climate change continues to exacerbate weather phenomena and environmental conditions, the need for thorough data analysis and effective interventions becomes paramount. The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) provides critical insights into temperature trends and climate patterns, essential for informing global strategies to combat climate change. The phenomenon of heightened global temperatures exceeding key thresholds has raised alarms about human activity’s impact on natural systems, compelling scientists to investigate further and urge immediate action.
In conclusion, 2024 is on track to be recorded as the hottest year, with temperatures surpassing critical thresholds. The notable increase in extreme weather events illustrates the profound impacts of climate change, primarily driven by human activity and greenhouse gas emissions. While some attention has been given to potential short-term cooling phenomena, the overarching trend of global warming continues unabated, necessitating urgent action from governments and organizations worldwide to mitigate its effects. As notable figures in climate science emphasize, the dangers of hazardous weather patterns will persist, underscoring the imperative for sustained efforts towards climate stabilization.
Original Source: www.euractiv.com
