The European observatory Copernicus has declared that 2024 is set to be the hottest year ever, in recorded history, exceeding the unprecedented temperatures of 2023.
For the first time, global temperature increases are anticipated to surpass the 1.5°C threshold, compared to the pre-industrial levels, as outlined by the Paris agreement.
Scientists warn that crossing this critical benchmark in the future decades could potentially prove to be a great threat for the planet. According to experts from Europe these extremely high temperatures are expected to persist until the first months of 2025.
Extreme weather phenomena swept across the globe in 2024. Italy, and South America were gripped by drought, Nepal, Soudan and Europe experienced fatal flooding, while heatwaves in Mexico, Mali and Saudi Arabia left behind thousands of casualties. Additionally, catastrophic cyclones wreaked havoc in the US and the Philippines.
Scientific studies have attributed all these catastrophes to climate change due to human footprint, with carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels being the primary cause of climate change.
The reduction of emissions to net zero—as many governments have pledged to eventually achieve—will halt the worsening of global warming. However, despite these green commitments, global carbon dioxide emissions are set to hit a record high this year.
Last month was the second warmest November ever recorded, following November 2023.
Julien Nicolas, a climate researcher at Copernicus told Reuters “We are still at near-record levels for global temperatures, and this is likely to persist at least for the next few months.”
While 2025 might be slightly cooler than 2024 if a La Niña event develops, this does not mean temperatures will be “safe” or “normal,” stated Friederike Otto, a senior lecturer at Imperial College London.
“We will continue to experience high temperatures, leading to dangerous heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, and tropical cyclones,” she said.
