2024 Set to Break Temperature Records Amid Escalating Climate Crisis
The Copernicus Climate Change Service announced that 2024 is likely to be the hottest year on record, breaching the 1.5C warming threshold. Recent extreme weather events and rising global temperatures underscore the importance of ambitious climate action ahead of the upcoming UN climate negotiations in Azerbaijan, where global leaders will attempt to establish critical new carbon-reduction targets amidst ongoing climate threats.
A recent report by the Copernicus Climate Change Service confirmed that 2024 is poised to become the hottest year on record, surpassing the critical threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. This alarming milestone follows a series of extreme weather events, including severe flooding in Spain and Hurricane Milton in the United States, as observed in October, which was the second warmest on record. The agency reiterated that global temperatures are expected to exceed 1.55 degrees Celsius above historical averages, emphasizing the urgent need for ambitious climate actions at the upcoming UN negotiations in Azerbaijan. The international climate conference happens amidst rising global temperatures and increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases. As climate change poses significant threats, particularly the peril of overshooting the 1.5 degrees Celsius limit, recent assessments suggest that current efforts are insufficient. The UN highlighted that without transformative action, the future could witness a catastrophic rise of approximately 3.1 degrees Celsius by century’s end. Moreover, extreme weather patterns, including droughts in the United States and heavy rains across Europe and other regions, are becoming more frequent due to climate change. In light of these developments, the role of nations in promoting stronger climate policies becomes more critical. With the looming potential of political shifts in the United States regarding climate agreements, the outcome of the negotiations in Azerbaijan could be pivotal. The scientific community suggests that the ongoing climatic changes may represent the warmest epoch on Earth for the past 100,000 years, highlighting the urgency to address climate change collectively.
The ongoing climate changes have raised global temperatures significantly, with projections indicating that 2024 will exceed the 1.5 degrees Celsius warming threshold above pre-industrial levels. This report serves as a reminder of the impact of human activities, particularly fossil fuel consumption, on the climate. The context is critical as nations prepare for pivotal climate negotiations aimed at establishing more stringent measures to combat climate change, amidst warnings that current trajectories may lead to disastrous temperature increases this century.
The confirmation that 2024 is anticipated to set record-high temperatures above 1.5 degrees Celsius underscores the necessity for urgent global action to address climate change. Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, reinforcing the need for robust climate policies and international cooperation. The upcoming UN climate talks in Azerbaijan will be crucial for outlining future commitments and fostering international collaboration to stabilize global temperatures and mitigate the effects of climate change.
Original Source: www.rfi.fr
