The UN has reported unprecedented extreme weather and record heat in 2024, marking it as a crucial year in the broader climate crisis. With greenhouse gas emissions at an all-time high, the urgency for immediate action to mitigate climate change consequences is evident. The UN Secretary-General emphasizes the necessity for countries to significantly reduce emissions and transition to renewable energy by 2025.
The United Nations has declared that climate change has triggered unprecedented extreme weather and record-high temperatures throughout 2024. This alarming trend marks what the UN describes as a decade fraught with extraordinary heat and escalating environmental calamities. Recent reports indicate that greenhouse gas emissions have reached an all-time high, exacerbating global warming and threatening the sustainability of future climates.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) noted that 2024 is poised to set records for warmth, with global temperatures currently averaging 1.54 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. This alarming increase reinforces the notion that we are witnessing climate change manifestations on a daily basis. “Climate change plays out before our eyes on an almost daily basis in the form of increased occurrence and impact of extreme weather events,” remarked WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo. The year has been marked by devastating floods, intense tropical cyclones, and record-breaking high temperatures, with some regions experiencing temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius, leading to severe wildfires.
In pursuing global climate goals, the 2015 Paris climate accords set ambitious targets to maintain global warming well below two degrees Celsius, with aspirations to restrict the rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Yet, as demonstrated by data from the past year, such objectives are becoming increasingly challenging. UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the urgency of the climate crisis, asserting that, “This is climate breakdown in real time. We must exit this road to ruin — and we have no time to lose.”
To mitigate these challenges, Guterres called upon nations to commit to aggressive emissions reductions by 2025 and transition towards renewable energy solutions, stating, “It is essential, and it is possible.”
This article addresses the alarming consequences of climate change as evidenced by the recent report from the United Nations. It discusses the extreme weather events and unprecedented temperatures recorded in 2024, attributing them to the ongoing rise in greenhouse gas emissions. The background provided here emphasizes the long-term implications of climate change, highlighting international agreements like the Paris Accord and the urgent need for significant action from countries to limit global warming.
In conclusion, the United Nations has underscored the urgent need for immediate action to address the escalating climate crisis, as evidenced by the extreme weather patterns and record temperatures observed in 2024. The rising greenhouse gas emissions threaten to further exacerbate these conditions, thereby hindering the global effort to meet climate objectives set forth in international agreements. The call for rapid emissions reductions and a transition to renewable energy reflects the critical importance of decisive action to curb climate change before it is too late.
Original Source: www.france24.com
