2024: A Year Marked by Extreme Weather and Record Heat Due to Climate Change

In 2024, climate change has resulted in unprecedented heat and extreme weather, marking it likely the warmest year ever recorded according to the United Nations. The World Meteorological Organization has reported record temperatures and greenhouse gas emissions, prompting urgent calls for action from world leaders to transition to renewable energy and cut emissions significantly for a safer future.

In 2024, climate change has been identified as a primary driver of extreme weather and unprecedented heat, according to the United Nations. The year is poised to become the warmest on record, with greenhouse gas emissions reaching new heights, which will further exacerbate future temperature rises. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported severe impacts including record rainfall, flooding, and devastating heat that has impacted countries globally. Tropical cyclones inflicted significant human and economic damage, with temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius in multiple locations, resulting in tragic consequences, including devastating wildfires.

The Paris Agreement aims to restrict global warming significantly below a two-degree Celsius increase. However, recent data reveals that the average surface air temperature from January to September 2024 was 1.54 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, indicating that the year is likely to outpace 2023’s previous records. The WMO is expected to release final temperature figures in January 2025, yet the trends suggest a continual rise.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted the urgent crisis during his New Year’s message, stating that we have witnessed a decade marked by exceedingly high temperatures. “Today I can officially report that we have just endured a decade of deadly heat. The top 10 hottest years on record have happened in the last 10 years, including 2024,” conveying the pressing need for immediate action. Guterres urged countries to significantly cut emissions starting in 2025, to pave the way for a sustainable and renewable future, emphasizing the critical and achievable nature of this transition.

The ongoing dialogue regarding climate change has highlighted its increasingly severe impacts, particularly the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. This situation has necessitated global discussions, such as the 2015 Paris climate agreements, to establish targets aimed at limiting temperature increases to combat the adverse effects of climate change on both humanity and the environment. The findings of the WMO and reports from the UN have sparked calls for urgent action to reduce emissions and transition to sustainable energy sources as the world faces unprecedented challenges in weather patterns and temperatures.

The analysis of climate trends in 2024 underscores an urgent need for global action to mitigate the impacts of climate change. With record-breaking temperatures and extreme weather, the data collected serves as a grim reminder of the reality of climate breakdown. As leaders and nations prepare to respond, there is a crucial opportunity to shift toward a renewable future, dramatically reduce emissions, and safeguard the planet for future generations.

Original Source: www.bangkokpost.com