The UN reported that 2024 may become the hottest year on record, driven by climate change that has caused extreme weather and high greenhouse gas emissions. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo highlighted the severe impacts, including record rains, floods, and intense heatwaves. The urgency for countries to reduce emissions and transition to renewable energy is critical, as emphasized by UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
The United Nations has announced that climate change has resulted in significant extreme weather patterns and unprecedented heat levels throughout 2024, which is poised to become the hottest year on record. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reports that greenhouse gas emissions have reached record highs, exacerbating future global warming. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo noted that the year saw devastating weather occurrences, including severe rainfall, flooding, and tropical cyclones that led to extensive loss of life and economic hardship globally. Moreover, many countries experienced temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius, alongside rampant wildfires.
The global climate situation is alarming, with the current January to September mean surface air temperature being measured at 1.54 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average. This provides substantial evidence that 2024 will surpass previous temperature records set in recent years. In light of this crisis, UN Secretary-General António Guterres underscored the importance of immediate action to reduce emissions and transitioning to renewable energy sources to ensure a safer future for the planet.
The urgency surrounding climate change has intensified as scientific evidence increasingly indicates its detrimental effects on weather patterns and global temperatures. Since the onset of the industrial era, human activities—particularly the burning of fossil fuels—have led to unprecedented increases in greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. The Paris Agreement of 2015 established critical targets to mitigate temperature rise, yet recent data highlight significant challenges in achieving these goals. The impact of climate-related disasters has prompted global leaders to call for swift and decisive action.
In conclusion, 2024 marks a stark warning about the severe consequences of climate change as evidenced by extreme weather events and record-breaking global temperatures. The UN’s clarion call emphasizes the need for immediate collective action to drastically decrease emissions and transition to sustainable energy. Failure to heed these warnings could lead humanity further down a perilous path, and it is imperative that nations act decisively and collaboratively to avert impending climate catastrophe.
Original Source: www.straitstimes.com
