In 2024, the UN reported unprecedented extreme weather and record heat due to climate change, making it the warmest year on record. Greenhouse gas emissions reached new highs, worsening future warming. The WMO highlighted the severe impacts of these changes, including floods and wildfires, as the world faces critical challenges to meet climate goals outlined in international accords. Immediate action is indispensable to exit the current trajectory toward climatic disaster.
According to the United Nations, the year 2024 has experienced unprecedented extreme weather conditions and record heat levels, exacerbated by climate change. As articulated by the UN’s weather and climate agency, this year is poised to be the warmest on record, contributing to a decade marked by extraordinary heat. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported a significant rise in greenhouse gas emissions, which compounds future warming.
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo stated that the impacts of climate change are increasingly evident, as the world endured severe weather phenomena characterized by extraordinary rainfall, flooding, and devastating cyclones, notably in Mayotte in the Indian Ocean. Additionally, soaring temperatures exceeded 50 degrees Celsius in numerous regions, leading to widespread wildfires and loss of life.
Despite international efforts such as the 2015 Paris climate accords, aimed at limiting global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius, the average surface air temperature from January to September in 2024 was measured at 1.54 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. This trend suggests that 2024 will likely surpass the previous year’s record of 1.45 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial temperatures.
In a reflective New Year address, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the severity of the situation, describing the last decade as marked by deadly heat, with all top ten hottest years occurring within this period, including 2024. He stressed the urgency for nations to undertake substantial emissions reductions and transition rapidly towards renewable energy sources to avert further climate disaster.
As the WMO prepares to issue the final global temperature data for 2024, there is an imperative for collective and immediate action towards climate stabilization and mitigation to safeguard future generations.
The article discusses the alarming evidence of climate change as reported by the United Nations and the World Meteorological Organization for the year 2024. It highlights a concerning trend of increasing global temperatures, severe weather phenomena, and the significant human toll of these events. The urgent call to action emphasizes the necessity for global cooperation to meet greenhouse gas reduction targets established in international agreements.
The rising global temperatures and extreme weather events of 2024 serve as critical indicators of the climate crisis that humanity faces. With record highs in greenhouse gas emissions, the call to action led by the United Nations emphasizes the immediate need for decisive measures to combat climate change. Failure to act could result in catastrophic consequences for communities worldwide, underlining the importance of transitioning to renewable energy and reducing emissions as a collective responsibility.
Original Source: www.straitstimes.com
