The United Nations reported that 2024 is experiencing unprecedented climate change impacts, including extreme weather and record-breaking temperatures. With greenhouse gas emissions at an all-time high, global action is urgently needed to mitigate these effects and adhere to the Paris Agreement’s climate goals.
In a recent report, the United Nations highlighted that 2024 has witnessed unprecedented levels of extreme weather and record temperatures, emphasizing the urgent need for global action against climate change. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirmed that this year could become the warmest on record, continuing a troubling trend of rising temperatures observed over the past decade. With greenhouse gas emissions reaching new heights, the situation is poised to worsen, entrenching further climatic impacts in the years to come.
Secretary-General Celeste Saulo of the WMO stressed that the effects of climate change are increasingly evident, as communities worldwide grapple with the devastation from record-breaking rainfall, flooding, and tropical cyclones, notably in regions like Mayotte in the Indian Ocean. Coupled with intense heatwaves exceeding 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) and catastrophic wildfires, these extreme events have resulted in considerable human and economic losses.
The ambitions set forth in the Paris climate agreements remain critical, aiming to restrict global temperature rise to well below two degrees Celsius relative to pre-industrial levels. The latest readings indicated that the average surface air temperature from January to September 2024 was 1.54 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average. This alarming figure suggests that 2024 is set to eclipse the previous record, established in 2023, where temperatures were already 1.45 degrees Celsius above those historical benchmarks.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres remarked on the decade marked by extreme heat, noting that the top ten hottest years recorded have all occurred in the past ten years, including 2024. “This is climate breakdown in real time. We must exit this road to ruin — and we have no time to lose,” he asserted, calling for immediate reductions in emissions by countries in 2025 to pave the way for a sustainable future.
The discussion around climate change has gained significant traction over recent years as the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events have escalated globally. The United Nations, along with the World Meteorological Organization, has been at the forefront of assessing the impacts of climate change, educating the public on its ramifications, and urging countries to commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Paris Agreement established crucial limits on global warming, reflecting international consensus on the need for collaborative efforts to mitigate climate change.
The report from the United Nations emphasizes the urgent and pressing necessity for countries to confront climate change as 2024 is on track to be the hottest year recorded. With greenhouse gas emissions reaching unprecedented levels, the potential for future climate breakdown looms larger. Immediate and substantial action is imperative to mitigate the severe impacts of climate change and adhere to international climate goals set in the Paris Agreement.
Original Source: www.france24.com
