The year 2024 was marked as the hottest on record with global temperatures exceeding 1.5°C for the first time, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service. This milestone illustrates the alarming increase in extreme weather events and temperature rises worldwide, with critical implications for climate policy and human health. Although this year’s temperatures surpassed the threshold, long-term averages remain slightly lower, necessitating immediate actions to combat global warming.
In 2024, global temperatures reached unprecedented levels, marking the first occasion on record where average temperatures surpassed 1.5°C above pre-industrial norms, as reported by the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. The year witnessed catastrophic events, including extreme flooding in April that claimed hundreds of lives in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and a significant drought across the Amazon Basin. The ancient Acropolis in Athens was closed during peak heat hours to protect visitors from severe temperatures.
All continents, apart from Australasia and Antarctica, experienced their hottest climates on record, with nine of the twelve months surpassing the critical 1.5°C threshold. These alarming temperature trends have persisted for several years, with 2023 previously holding the hottest-year record. Scientists utilized advanced reanalysis techniques that integrated diverse data sources to track these climatic shifts comprehensively.
While reaching this milestone signifies a concerning development, it does not equate to a permanent crossing of the Paris Agreement’s established limit, which concerns long-term averages, currently at approximately 1.3°C. Year-to-year variations influenced by natural phenomena such as El Niño contributed to the temperature spikes observed—a complex interaction that complicates efforts to define the ongoing climate crisis.
Global climate change poses significant threats, with increasing temperatures contributing to extreme weather events and ecological disturbances. The Paris Agreement, signed by 195 nations, aims to curb global warming to below 1.5°C relative to pre-industrial levels. This target is critical, as even temporary exceedances of this threshold can trigger severe and potentially irreversible environmental impacts. The 2024 data highlights both the urgency and the ongoing challenges faced in mitigating climate change effects, further emphasizing the need for immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt societal infrastructures against these changes.
The recent report from the Copernicus Climate Change Service indicates a crucial turning point in the ongoing battle against climate change, with record temperatures achieved in 2024. This milestone serves as both a warning and an impetus for policymakers to accelerate their efforts in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing climate resilience. The escalating climatic extremes underscore the necessity for a global reassessment of strategies to adhere to the commitments made in the Paris Agreement, ensuring that future generations are safeguarded from increasingly severe climate consequences.
Original Source: theprint.in
