The United Nations announced that climate change has resulted in extreme weather and record high temperatures in 2024. This year is set to be the warmest on record, with greenhouse gas emissions reaching new heights. WMO officials noted the disastrous effects of extreme weather globally, highlighting the urgent need for emissions reductions and a shift towards renewable energy.
The United Nations reported on Monday that climate change has triggered widespread extreme weather phenomena and unprecedented heat levels in 2024. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) highlighted that the current year is poised to be the hottest on record, continuing a decade of extraordinary temperatures. Moreover, emissions of greenhouse gases have reached all-time highs, further exacerbating future warming.
WMO Secretary General Celeste Saulo expressed that “climate change plays out before our eyes on an almost daily basis in the form of increased occurrence and impact of extreme weather events.” In 2024 alone, the world faced catastrophic rainfall and flooding that claimed lives globally, alongside tropical cyclones that caused significant economic and humanitarian distress, particularly in regions such as Mayotte in the Indian Ocean. The year also witnessed scorching heat, with temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius in numerous nations, leading to devastating wildfires.
In light of the ongoing crisis, the 2015 Paris climate agreements aim to restrict global warming to below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with aspirations for 1.5C or less. The WMO’s report indicates that from January to September 2024, the average surface temperature exceeded pre-industrial levels by 1.54 degrees Celsius, setting a trajectory to surpass the previous year’s record.
Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary General, remarked on the decade’s alarming statistics, stating, “Today I can officially report that we have just endured a decade of deadly heat.” He described this phenomenon as “climate breakdown in real time” and emphasized the urgency of reversing the trend. By 2025, Guterres urged nations to significantly reduce emissions and transition towards renewable energy sources to avert further calamity. “It is essential, and it is possible,” he concluded.
The increasing severity of climate change is underscored by unprecedented global temperatures and weather patterns observed in recent years. The scientific consensus is that human activities, primarily through fossil fuel combustion, have contributed significantly to this climate crisis, leading to a spike in greenhouse gas emissions. The ongoing dire consequences include not only heightened temperatures but also increased frequencies of extreme weather events like floods, heatwaves, and wildfires — thereby necessitating immediate international action. The principles framed by the Paris Agreement present a target for global cooperation aimed at limiting the repercussions of climate change, indicating that decisive steps must be taken promptly to ensure a sustainable future.
The UN’s message for 2024 underscores the urgent reality of climate change and the critical need for collective action to curtail emissions and mitigate its impacts. With global temperatures reaching alarming levels and extreme weather events causing unprecedented damage worldwide, the call to transition towards renewable energy has never been more pressing. The year ahead will be pivotal for nations to not only recognize the severity of the situation but also to act decisively towards a sustainable future, as reiterated by UN officials.
Original Source: www.rfi.fr
