Earth shatters temperature records in 2024

On Jan. 10, 2024, the Climate Change Service released its annual climate summary, revealing that 2024 was another record-breaking year, following the extraordinary heat of 2023.

For the first time, the global average temperature exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels—a crucial benchmark set by the Paris Agreement to mitigate the risks and impacts of climate change.

This alarming milestone underscores the accelerating consequences of human-driven global warming.

The year 2024 set new global records for greenhouse gas concentrations, air temperatures, and sea surface temperatures.

These unprecedented changes contributed to a cascade of extreme events worldwide, including devastating floods, heatwaves, and wildfires. The data serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for global climate action.

The Associated Press revealed that the Earth recorded its hottest year on record in 2024, with a dramatic temperature increase that caused the planet to temporarily breach a major climate threshold.

Measurements from four of six monitoring agencies confirmed that 2024 marked the first time the planet remained above the critical 1.5°C limit for an entire year.

Scientists warn that sustained warming beyond this threshold would result in increased mortality, widespread destruction, biodiversity loss, and significant sea level rise driven by extreme weather events.

The devastating impacts of climate change were palpable throughout 2024. In the United States alone, there were 27 climate-related disasters costing over a billion dollars each.

As 2025 begins, the crisis continues with severe wildfires raging in southern California. These events highlight the immediate and far-reaching consequences of inaction on climate change.