2024 is projected to be the warmest year on record, with temperatures reaching 1.62°C above pre-industrial levels in November. This marks the first time temperatures have crossed the critical 1.5°C threshold, amplifying the call for urgent climate action as current pledges are insufficient to limit global warming. The ongoing climate trends magnify the need for enhanced commitments as a significant number of recent months have recorded temperatures over 1.5°C.
The year 2024 is on track to become the hottest year on record, with global temperatures projected to exceed the critical threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels for the first time. Recent data from the EU-funded Copernicus Climate Change Service indicates that the average global temperature reached 1.62 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels in November. Moreover, November of this year was noted as the second-hottest on record, highlighting the escalating urgency for climate action amidst stagnant carbon emissions commitments.
Samantha Burgess, deputy director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, confirmed, “We can now confirm with virtual certainty that 2024 will be the warmest year on record and the first calendar year above 1.5C. This does not mean that the Paris Agreement has been breached, but it does mean ambitious climate action is more urgent than ever.” Despite the significance of the 1.5C goal, current global pledges remain insufficient, leading to a projected temperature increase of 2.6 to 2.8 degrees Celsius if existing commitments are not enhanced. Over the past 17 months, 16 have recorded temperatures exceeding the 1.5C threshold, emphasizing the need for prompt action to mitigate climate change impacts.
The topic of global temperature rise and climate change has garnered significant attention from scientists, policymakers, and the international community. The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, sets forth a global framework to limit temperature increases to below 2 degrees Celsius, with an aspiration to keep temperature rise within 1.5 degrees Celsius. Understanding the implications of surpassing this threshold is critical, as it signals increasing risks of climate-related disasters, biodiversity loss, and severe human health consequences. Recent assessments by the Copernicus Climate Change Service reveal a troubling trend towards sustained temperature increases, bolstering calls for urgent reductions in carbon emissions across the globe.
In summary, 2024 is set to break records as the hottest year ever, primarily influenced by surpassing the crucial 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold. The confirmation from the Copernicus Climate Change Service underscores the need for immediate and ambitious action to meet climate commitments. With current policies inadequate to mitigate rising temperatures, swift and decisive measures are crucial to avoid the most severe impacts of climate change, reinforcing the urgency behind global climate initiatives.
Original Source: www.insurancejournal.com
