The United Nations announced that 2024 is on track to be the hottest year recorded, fueled by extreme weather events and rising greenhouse gas emissions. The World Meteorological Organization cautioned that climate change is visibly impacting daily life. Urgent action is needed as highlighted by UN leaders to drastically cut emissions and embrace renewable energy solutions.
The United Nations reported that 2024 has been marked by unprecedented extreme weather and record-breaking heat, warning that the world must retreat from a path leading to disaster. The year is projected to be the hottest on record, concluding a decade characterized by extraordinary temperatures. The World Meteorological Organization noted that greenhouse gas emissions have reached alarmingly high levels, resulting in a future with even more intensified heat.
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo stated, “Climate change plays out before our eyes on an almost daily basis in the form of increased occurrence and impact of extreme weather events.” This year witnessed catastrophic rainfall and flooding, leading to immense loss of life across multiple continents. Recent tropical cyclones inflicted grave human and economic damage, particularly in Mayotte. Furthermore, intense heat affected numerous countries, with temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius on multiple occasions, exacerbating wildfires and destruction.
The 2015 Paris Agreement seeks to limit global warming to below two degrees Celsius, preferably to 1.5 degrees. However, recent data from January to September shows a mean surface air temperature of 1.54 degrees above pre-industrial levels, suggesting that 2024 will easily surpass the previous record set in 2023, where temperatures were 1.45 degrees higher than pre-industrial levels. The WMO will release global temperature figures for 2024 in January, with a detailed report to follow in March.
In his New Year’s address, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres remarked on the extreme temperatures experienced over the past ten years, stating, “Today I can officially report that we have just endured a decade of deadly heat. The top 10 hottest years on record have happened in the last 10 years, including 2024.” Guterres emphasized the urgency for countries to significantly reduce emissions by 2025 to secure a safer future, urging for a rapid transition towards renewable energy solutions. He concluded, “It is essential, and it is possible.”
The article discusses the alarming effects of climate change as reported by the United Nations and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). It details the record-breaking heat and extreme weather patterns observed in 2024, contextualizing these events within broader climate trends over the past decade. The urgency of the situation is underscored by a call to action for global emissions reductions in alignment with the objectives of the Paris Agreement, aiming to mitigate future climate impacts.
The United Nations has underscored that 2024 is set to become the hottest year yet, accentuating the immediate need for global action against climate change. With unprecedented temperatures and extreme weather occurrences increasing, the imperative for countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has never been clearer. As highlighted by UN officials, transitioning to renewable energy sources is not only essential but also feasible, establishing a critical path forward to combat the ongoing climate crisis.
Original Source: www.barrons.com
