2024 has been declared China’s hottest year since 1961, with national temperatures averaging 10.92 degrees Celsius. This year has seen unprecedented flooding and extreme temperatures, causing significant human and economic losses. Climate change drives this alarming trend, reflecting a global pattern of rising temperatures, with the United Nations projecting 2024 to be the warmest year recorded worldwide. Immediate action is needed to address these urgent climate challenges.
According to China’s weather agency, 2024 has been recorded as the hottest year in China since formal meteorological records began in 1961. The average national temperature reached 10.92 degrees Celsius (51.66 degrees Fahrenheit), surpassing the previous average by 1.03 degrees. Furthermore, the agency indicated that the last four years represent the top four warmest years in history, highlighting a concerning trend of intensifying temperatures. This extreme weather phenomenon, linked to climate change, has resulted in significant disasters across the country, including severe flooding and record-high temperatures in various regions.
In the previous year, China faced numerous climate-related challenges, with thousands evacuated and dozens tragically losing their lives due to floods. Notably, southern China experienced extreme rainfall that led to catastrophic incidents, such as the collapse of a highway killing 48 individuals. The southern city of Guangzhou reported an unprecedented long summer, with average temperatures exceeding 22 degrees Celsius (71.6 degrees Fahrenheit) for 240 days, setting a new record since 1994. This alarming pattern is echoed by reports of drought and heat in areas such as Sichuan and Chongqing, exacerbating the strain on resources and communities.
This trend is not isolated to China; the global landscape has experienced a surge in severe weather events. The United Nations announced that 2024 was projected to be the hottest year on record globally, reinforcing the urgency of addressing climate change. The persistent rise in temperatures is attributed predominantly to increased greenhouse gas emissions resulting from global fossil fuel consumption. Rising global temperatures not only affect weather patterns but also induce more intense precipitation and storms, leading to widespread economic impacts with natural disasters accumulating losses estimated at $310 billion in 2024 alone.
The 2015 Paris climate agreements sought to mitigate global warming by limiting the temperature increase to well below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. However, the World Meteorological Organization has reported that mean surface air temperatures surged to 1.54 degrees Celsius higher than the pre-industrial average in the first nine months of 2024, further emphasizing the critical need for immediate and substantive climate action.
The article discusses the alarming rise in temperatures in China, marking 2024 as its hottest year on record, according to data from the China Meteorological Administration. This situation reflects a broader global pattern of escalating climate-related crises attributed to human-induced climate change. The aftermath of this climate crisis is increasingly evident through both human and economic tolls, as the frequency and intensity of natural disasters rise, demanding urgent attention to global emissions issues.
The intensifying heat and extreme weather witnessed in China during 2024 serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address climate change. The record temperatures and severe natural disasters underscore the critical importance of adhering to international climate agreements to limit global warming. As the world collectively faces these unprecedented challenges, concerted efforts must be made to mitigate emissions and adapt to the impact of climate change, ultimately safeguarding lives and livelihoods for the future.
Original Source: www.france24.com
