Confirm Record-Breaking Temperatures Due to Global Warming
Global temperatures surpassed 1.5 degrees Celsius over pre- industrial levels for the first time in 2024, according to scientists from the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). An Unparalleled milestone in contemporary human history was reached when the planet’s average temperature rose by 1.6 degree centigrade above the pre-industrial baseline of 1850-1900.
Global Warming Key Findings
- 2024 saw each month rank as the warmest or second-warmest on record for that specific month.
- CO2 levels in the atmosphere reached a record high of 422 parts per million.
- The atmosphere’s record volumes of water vapour increased the likelihood of extreme weather events.
- Temperature records have been continuously surpassed over the last ten years, with each year topping the previous one.
Climatic Disasters Caused By Global Warming
Extreme weather events have become more frequent globally as a result of climate change. Devastating wildfires in Los Angeles damaged around 10,000 buildings and took at least ten lives. While catastrophic flooding occurred in Nepal, Sudan, and Spain, similar catastrophes occurred in Bolivia and Venezuela. Thousands died as a result of deadly heatwaves in Saudi Arabia and Mexico.
Global Warming Political Challenges
In several areas, political resolve to address the situation has waned despite growing evidence of its effects. While several European Union countries are working to ease climate policies they argue hinder corporate competitiveness, Donald Trump, the incoming U.S. president-elect, has rejected climate change as a hoax.
A Scientific View on Global Warming and its Perspectives
Although a one year violation of the 1.5 degree centigrade barrier does not contradict the long-term aim of the Paris Agreement, climate scientists stress that it is a crucial warning sign. According to Berkeley Earth scientist Zeke Haus father, 2025 will probably be one of the top three warmest years, though it might not break the record set in 2024 because of the shift from El Niño to La Niña conditions.
Call to Action on Global Warming
Despite geopolitical obstacles, EU Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra emphasized how urgent it is to prioritize climate action. Carlo Buontempo, director of C3S, expressed optimism, pointing out that although the trend is concerning, the planet’s warming trajectory might still be changed wit swift and significant emissions reductions.
This milestone should be a wake-up call for political leaders to act decisively, according to Chukwumerije Okereke, a climate governance expert from the University of Bristol. The message is clear: ambitious carbon reduction techniques can still stop more warming even though the situation is dire.
