2024 has been declared the hottest year on record in China, as well as globally, with dangerous weather patterns leading to significant loss of life and economic damage. The rise in temperatures, driven largely by climate change, has resulted in floods, storms, droughts, and wildfires, highlighting the need for urgent action to tackle greenhouse gas emissions based on international agreements.
According to the China Meteorological Administration, 2024 has been recognized as the hottest year on record for China, surpassing previous temperature averages. The reported national average temperature reached 10.92 degrees Celsius (51.66 degrees Fahrenheit), exceeding prior norms by 1.03 degrees Celsius. Furthermore, the past four years have consistently ranked among the warmest in history, with all ten hottest years since 1961 occurring within the 21st century. This alarming trend correlates with globally intensifying weather patterns attributed to climate change, which is primarily driven by greenhouse gas emissions, particularly from major emitters like China.
The impacts of rising temperatures are increasingly severe, manifesting in extreme weather events such as floods and storms. In 2024 alone, China faced devastating floods that resulted in casualties and widespread evacuations, placing a strain on infrastructure and livelihoods. Notably, during May, a highway collapse in southern China claimed 48 lives. Additionally, the city of Guangzhou experienced an unprecedented lengthy summer, registering 240 days where the average temperature remained above 22 degrees Celsius (71.6 degrees Fahrenheit).
Global trends reflect similar patterns, with 2024 characterized by significant natural disasters, including flooding in Spain and Kenya, storms in the United States and the Philippines, as well as droughts and wildfires in South America. The economic toll of climate-related disasters reached approximately $310 billion, highlighting the escalating costs linked to these extreme weather events.
The United Nations has emphasized that 2024 is poised to become the warmest year globally recorded, reinforcing the dire predictions outlined in the 2015 Paris climate accords. These accords aimed to restrict global warming to well below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, ideally targeting a 1.5-degree limit. Recent measurements indicated that the mean surface air temperature from January to September 2024 was 1.54 degrees Celsius higher than the pre-industrial average during the years of 1850 to 1900. As governments continue to grapple with climate change, the urgency for immediate and effective solutions to curb emissions remains paramount.
The record-breaking temperatures in China and the myriad of extreme weather events worldwide are closely linked to the ongoing climate crisis, driven largely by human activities such as fossil fuel combustion. Increased greenhouse gas emissions have led to a rise in temperatures globally, with ramifications that include severe weather phenomena, economic losses, and human casualties. Moreover, Chinese authorities have acknowledged the urgency of addressing climate change, committing to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2060, amidst ongoing environmental challenges.
In summary, the findings from the China Meteorological Administration underscore the alarming rise in temperatures, with 2024 marking a significant milestone as the hottest year on record for the nation. This trend reflects broader global climatic changes that have profound implications for weather patterns and economic stability. The urgent need for coordinated international efforts to mitigate climate change is more critical than ever, as rising temperatures continue to lead to devastating weather-related impacts across the globe.
Original Source: www.rfi.fr
