In 2024, global temperatures are expected to surpass 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, marking it as the hottest year in recorded history. Copernicus Climate Change Service emphasizes urgent climate action, particularly ahead of UN negotiations in Azerbaijan, as recent weather extremes underscore the ongoing climate crisis. Despite legal frameworks like the Paris Agreement, scientists warn every additional degree of warming significantly escalates environmental threats.
The year 2024 is projected to be the hottest on record, with global temperatures anticipated to exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. This prediction comes ahead of significant UN climate negotiations scheduled to take place next week in Azerbaijan, where nations are expected to address urgent actions needed to mitigate climate change. Recent weather events, including severe flooding in Spain and Hurricane Milton impacting the United States, serve as stark reminders of the effects of escalating global temperatures. According to Copernicus, the average global temperature for 2024 could surpass 1.55 degrees Celsius above the 1850-1900 average, a benchmark preceding extensive fossil fuel consumption. Although this increase does not officially breach the guidelines of the Paris Agreement—which aims to cap global warming at well below 2°C, ideally at 1.5°C—scientists emphasize that it represents a dramatic shift in temperature records that necessitates immediate and intensified climate action. “It is now virtually certain that 2024 will be the warmest year on record and the first year of more than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels,” stated Samantha Burgess, deputy director of Copernicus Climate Change Service. She underscored the importance of using this new milestone to galvanize commitment and ambition at the upcoming Climate Change Conference, COP29. The timing of these negotiations is critical, especially following the recent election victory of Donald Trump, a known climate change skeptic who withdrew the United States from the Paris Agreement during his previous administration. Meanwhile, global temperatures and greenhouse gas concentrations are consistently reaching alarmingly high levels. The UN warns that if current climate actions remain unchanged, the result could be an alarming increase of 3.1°C by the century’s end, with even comprehensive climate pledges potentially resulting in a 2.6°C rise. Furthermore, climatic changes are manifesting in wild weather patterns across the globe, with more intense storms and extreme rainfall becoming commonplace. Copernicus reported significant rainfall increases last month, affecting various regions across Europe, the United States, Brazil, and Australia, while drought conditions persist in the United States, impacting a substantial populace. The agency’s records, established through extensive historical data, indicate that the Earth is experiencing temperatures akin to those of the last 100,000 years, underscoring the severity of the current climate crisis.
The ongoing climate crisis has reached a critical point as scientists report unprecedented temperature rises. The Copernicus Climate Change Service serves as an essential monitoring body, providing data and insights regarding global temperatures and their implications. With nations set to convene for decisive negotiations in Azerbaijan, the urgency to develop effective strategies to combat climate change has never been more salient. Previous agreements like the Paris Agreement aim to restrict global warming, yet the growing challenges highlight the need for enhanced commitment to climate action.
The forecast of 2024 becoming the hottest year recorded highlights the immediate need for stronger climate action ahead of the UN negotiations. With alarming predictions of temperature anomalies and observable weather extremes, the global community faces a pivotal moment to fortify climate commitments. The influence of political leaders on climate policy remains crucial, as does the understanding that every fraction of a degree in temperature rise leads to increasingly severe impacts on ecosystems and human society.
Original Source: www.rfi.fr
