Earth's temperature reached unprecedented levels in 2024, with scientists forecasting that the extreme heat will extend into at least the early months of 2025. The planet’s average temperature has now surpassed 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing climate crisis.
European Union scientists from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) confirmed that 2024 is on track to be the hottest year since global records began. This announcement follows data from January to November, which solidifies the year’s place in history as the first time average global temperatures have exceeded the critical 1.5°C threshold. The previous record-holder was 2023.
Extreme Weather and Its Impacts
This year has witnessed a surge in extreme weather events around the globe. Severe droughts gripped Italy and South America, while devastating floods claimed lives in Nepal, Sudan, and parts of Europe. Intense heatwaves in Mexico, Mali, and Saudi Arabia resulted in thousands of deaths, and catastrophic cyclones wreaked havoc in the U.S. and the Philippines.
Scientific research has unequivocally linked these disasters to human-induced climate change, primarily driven by carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel consumption.
Persistent Climate Challenges
The month of November 2024 was the second-warmest on record, only surpassed by November 2023. Experts warn that global temperatures are likely to remain at near-record highs for months to come.
Despite numerous pledges by governments to achieve net-zero emissions, global CO2 emissions are projected to hit an all-time high this year. Achieving net-zero emissions is critical to halting the worsening trajectory of global warming.
Influence of Weather Patterns
Scientists are closely monitoring the potential development of a La Niña weather pattern in 2025. This phenomenon, characterized by cooler ocean surface temperatures, may temporarily moderate global temperatures. However, experts emphasize that such cooling events would only mask the long-term warming trend caused by greenhouse gas emissions.
“Even if 2025 is slightly cooler due to La Niña, it doesn’t mean temperatures will be safe or normal,” said Friederike Otto, a senior lecturer at Imperial College London. “We will still face dangerous heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, and tropical cyclones.”
The Copernicus Climate Change Service, which has records dating back to 1940 and cross-referenced data extending to 1850, continues to track and report on these alarming trends.
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