The WMO reported that 2024 is the hottest year on record at 1.55°C above pre-industrial levels, linking this to severe global weather events and ongoing climate challenges. This comes as Los Angeles faces devastating wildfires aggravated by climate change, prompting calls from UN officials for urgent climate action to combat rising temperatures and ensure the goals of the Paris Agreement are met.
On Friday, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) announced that 2024 has officially become the hottest year on record, with temperatures rising to 1.55 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. This alarming data coincided with catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles, causing widespread evacuations. WMO spokesperson Clare Nullis noted, “We saw extraordinary land, sea surface temperatures, extraordinary ocean heat accompanied by very extreme weather affecting many countries around the world, destroying lives, livelihoods, hopes and dreams.”
Despite varying statistics from international datasets, the consensus indicates a significant rise in average global temperatures, underlining the urgency of climate action. This increase surpassing the critical threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius affects various aspects of life, economy, and planetary health. The WMO raised concerns about the sustainability of the Paris Agreement, emphasizing that the long-term goals aim to curb temperature rises over decades, not just annually. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo stated, “Climate history is playing out before our eyes… every fraction of a degree of warming matters.”
As fires rage in Los Angeles, attributed in part to climate change-induced conditions, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for urgent climate action plans to limit long-term temperature increase, emphasizing that the extreme conditions of 2024 demand trail-blazing climate initiatives in the future. Guterres articulated, “Blazing temperatures in 2024 require trail-blazing climate action in 2025. There’s still time to avoid the worst of climate catastrophe. But leaders must act – now.”
Furthermore, the WMO highlighted a study indicating that ocean warming has significantly contributed to the unprecedented high temperatures recorded, with the oceans being the warmest they have recorded to date. About 90 percent of the excess heat from global warming resides in the oceans, underscoring the importance of ocean heat content as an essential climate change indicator.
The announcement by the WMO highlights the unprecedented heat that the Earth is experiencing, with 2024 set to break prior records. Over the years, various international datasets have been analyzing temperature increases in connection with climate change, linking rising temperatures to more frequent extreme weather events. The 1.5 degrees Celsius limit was a critical target set by the Paris Agreement, aiming to combat the detrimental effects of climate change. The ongoing consequences, such as wildfires and ocean warming, underline the urgent need for collective action at the national and global levels.
The confirmation of 2024 as the hottest year on record by the WMO signals a critical moment for climate action worldwide. As extreme weather events increase, the international community faces the pressing challenge of adhering to the Paris Agreement’s temperature goals. The responses to these challenges must be immediate and robust to mitigate the long-term impacts of climate change, underscoring the essential nature of decisive action starting in 2025.
Original Source: www.connectedtoindia.com
