European Union scientists have announced that 2024 is set to be the hottest year on record, with temperatures anticipated to remain high into early 2025. This follows a $300 billion climate deal from U.N. talks, criticized for being inadequate. Extreme weather is noted globally, with significant human impacts attributed to climate change. Scientists caution that potential cooling from a La Nina effect in 2025 will not signify complete safety from climate threats.
Brussels: According to European Union scientists, 2024 is officially the hottest year recorded. The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) predicts that exceptionally elevated temperatures will persist well into early 2025. This announcement follows recent U.N. climate discussions, which resulted in a $300 billion agreement intended to combat climate change. However, critics from poorer nations argue that the funding is inadequate to address mounting climate-related damages.
Data compiled between January and November corroborates that 2024 will surpass all previous temperature records, becoming the first year to surpass an average global temperature increase of 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels from 1850-1900. Last year, 2023, held the previous record for the highest annual temperatures. The year 2024 has witnessed extreme weather phenomena including severe droughts in Italy and South America, devastating floods in Nepal, Sudan, and Europe, and lethal heatwaves in Mexico, Mali, and Saudi Arabia that have resulted in numerous casualties. Additionally, cyclones have wreaked havoc in the United States and the Philippines. Scientific analyses have confirmed that these catastrophic weather events bear the hallmarks of anthropogenic climate change.
November of last year also marked the second warmest on record, following November 2023. Julien Nicolas, a climate researcher at Copernicus, stated, “We are still in near-record-high territory for global temperatures, and that is likely to remain for at least the next few months.” The primary driver of climate change is carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion. Although many governments have pledged to achieve net-zero emissions in the future, global CO2 emissions are anticipated to reach an all-time high this year.
Scientists are observing the possibility of a La Nina climate pattern forming in 2025, which is characterized by the cooling of ocean surface temperatures. This phenomenon might lead to a temporary reduction in global temperatures. However, it would not negate the ongoing trend of warming resulting from increased emissions. Currently, the climate is in a neutral state following the conclusion of an El Nino event earlier this year. “While 2025 might be slightly cooler than 2024, if a La Nina event develops, this does not mean temperatures will be ‘safe’ or ‘normal’,” cautioned Friederike Otto, a senior lecturer at Imperial College London. “We will still experience high temperatures, resulting in dangerous heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, and tropical cyclones.”
The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) is a highly regarded initiative that compiles and analyzes climate data, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of global warming trends. Recent climate discussions, including U.N. negotiations, highlight financial commitments aimed at mitigating the catastrophic impact of climate change, particularly for vulnerable nations. These discussions emerge amidst unprecedented weather events worldwide, prompting a reevaluation of scientific evidence linking human activity to rising global temperatures. Understanding the dynamics of climate patterns such as La Nina and El Nino is essential to assess future climatic conditions accurately. Given the alarming trajectory of greenhouse gas emissions and the urgent need for substantial interventions, scientists are increasingly vocal about the necessity of immediate action to achieve net-zero emissions. This could help in curbing the dangerous impacts of climate change, which threaten ecosystems and human livelihoods across the globe.
In summary, 2024 has been confirmed as the hottest year on record, with global temperatures consistently exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. This unprecedented heat has resulted in catastrophic weather events worldwide, firmly linking these occurrences to human-induced climate change. While 2025 may experience slight temperature fluctuations if a La Nina pattern emerges, high temperatures and extreme weather events are expected to persist, underscoring the urgent need for global action on climate change.
Original Source: www.onmanorama.com
