In 2024, global temperatures surpassed 1.5 degrees Celsius, marking the hottest year on record as confirmed by C3S. The increase reflects ongoing climate change issues, with extreme weather events occurring worldwide. This rise highlights the critical need for renewed commitments to climate action as political momentum shifts in some nations, notably with the arrival of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who has denied the realities of climate change.
In 2024, global temperatures reached unprecedented levels, marking the first year that average temperatures exceeded 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times. According to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), the planet’s average temperature was reported at 1.6 degrees Celsius higher than during the 1850-1900 period. This increase has surpassed the record previously set in 2023 and highlights a concerning trend of escalating global temperatures, with the last decade featuring the ten warmest years on record.
The implications of surpassing the 1.5-degree threshold, established under the 2015 Paris Agreement to mitigate severe climate disasters, are becoming increasingly evident. While a single year exceeding 1.5 degrees does not violate this long-term target, it signals a dire trajectory as fossil fuel emissions contribute to atmospheric warming. Disastrous climate-related events have become commonplace worldwide; extreme weather patterns ranging from wildfires in California to floods in Nepal illustrate the escalating impacts of climate change.
Despite the growing urgency to address these challenges, political resolve to implement measures against climate change appears to be diminishing in various nations. Controversially, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has publicly dismissed climate change, further complicating efforts to curb emissions. As global scientists prepare to release comprehensive climate data for 2024, the situation demands critical attention and action to avert future catastrophes.
The context of this article revolves around the alarming rise in global temperatures, as confirmed by scientific research and monitoring organizations. The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service has instituted benchmarks that gauge temperature changes relative to pre-industrial levels. The international community had previously set the 1.5 degrees Celsius goal as a pivotal threshold in combating climate change, compelling nations to curtail greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the most severe impacts of global warming. However, the consistent increase in temperatures coupled with extreme weather phenomena underscores the urgency for effective climate policy and action.
In summary, the year 2024 has become a pivotal moment in climate science, with average global temperatures exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius for the first time. The rise in temperature signals a critical alarm regarding climate policies and environmental management practices. With climate change visibly affecting all continents through catastrophic events such as wildfires and floods, there is an urgent need for global leadership to recommit to combating climate change effectively and decisively.
Original Source: www.rfi.fr
