The UN reported that 2024 is set to be the warmest year ever, with extreme weather and record heat linked to climate change. Greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, magnifying future risks. The WMO emphasizes the urgent need for global action to reduce emissions and transition to renewable energy to address this escalating crisis.
Geneva (AFP) – The United Nations has reported that 2024 has been marked by extreme weather and unprecedented heat levels, urging global leaders to reconsider their current path in light of these alarming changes. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) announced that this year is on track to become the warmest ever recorded, concluding a decade characterized by excessive heat.
Additionally, greenhouse gas emissions have reached record highs, further exacerbating future warming prospects. WMO Secretary General Celeste Saulo commented on the severity of climate change impacts, highlighting the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events affecting communities worldwide. “This year we saw record-breaking rainfall and flooding events and terrible loss of life in so many countries,” Saulo stated, pointing to the devastating impact such events have had across all continents.
Global temperatures have surged, with several countries experiencing temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit). The year has also witnessed devastating wildfires and tropical cyclones, notably causing significant humanitarian and economic damage, particularly in regions like Mayotte, a French overseas department in the Indian Ocean.
The urgency of action is underscored by the ongoing failure to meet climate goals. The 2015 Paris Agreement aimed to restrict global warming to well below two degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels. The WMO reported that the surface air temperature from January to September in 2024 was already 1.54 degrees Celsius above those levels.
Despite previous efforts, the top ten hottest years on record have occurred within the past decade, including the current year, affirming this as a time of serious climate breakdown. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres proclaimed the need for immediate action, stating, “We must exit this road to ruin — and we have no time to lose.” He insisted that by 2025 countries must significantly reduce emissions and transition to renewable energy solutions to create a safer future.
The phenomenon of climate change has been escalating over the past few decades, exacerbated by human activities that emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The United Nations has consistently monitored and reported on temperature anomalies, extreme weather events, and their related impacts. The WMO and the Paris Agreement represent pivotal efforts to combat climate change by establishing benchmarks for temperature increases and promoting international cooperation to reduce emissions.
In conclusion, the UN’s report for 2024 highlights the critical impacts of climate change, manifesting in extreme weather and record-breaking heat. Urgent action is needed as the world faces unprecedented temperature rises and a concerning increase in greenhouse gas emissions. The voices of leaders like Antonio Guterres stress the necessity of immediate global efforts to shift towards renewable energy and cut emissions dramatically to avert further climate disaster.
Original Source: www.rfi.fr
