European scientists forecast 2024 to be the hottest year on record, with global temperatures exceeding 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Extreme weather events have escalated globally, highlighting human-induced climate change. Data shows alarming trends, indicating urgent action is necessary to combat climate-related disasters.
European scientists have declared that the year 2024 is anticipated to be the hottest recorded to date, with extraordinarily elevated temperatures expected to persist into early 2025. According to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), the data compiled from January through November has unequivocally established 2024 as the first year in which the global average temperature surpassed 1.5 degrees Celsius (approximately 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above the pre-industrial baseline of 1850-1900.
Unprecedented extreme weather patterns have emerged globally in 2024, manifesting through severe droughts in Italy and South America, fatal floods across Nepal, Sudan, and Europe, and lethal heatwaves in regions including Mexico, Mali, and Saudi Arabia. Cyclones have also wreaked havoc in the United States and the Philippines, leading researchers to attribute the severe impacts of these climate-related disasters to anthropogenic influences.
The findings reflect a continuation of alarming temperature trends, with November 2024 recorded as the second-warmest November ever, following the previous peak in November 2023. Julien Nicolas, a climate researcher with the European Copernicus Climate Change Service, commented on the current situation, stating that the world remains in a phase of near-record-high temperatures. The persistence of such conditions is expected for the ensuing months.
Primary drivers of climate change have been identified as carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion. Although the year 2025 may present slightly cooler temperatures due to potential La Niña phenomena, Friederike Otto, a senior lecturer at Imperial College London, cautioned against assuming a return to normalcy, emphasizing that dangerous weather events such as heatwaves and droughts will continue to occur.
C3S has been maintaining comprehensive temperature records since 1940 and establishes correlations with historical global temperature records dating back to 1850, further underscoring the urgency of addressing climate change.
The announcement of 2024 being the hottest year on record emerges against the backdrop of ongoing climate discussions, including recent U.N. climate talks that concluded with a substantial financial commitment of $300 billion targeted at combating climate change. However, critiques have been raised regarding the adequacy of this package, particularly from nations that contend that it falls short in addressing the escalating costs associated with climate-related disasters. The data collected by the Copernicus Climate Change Service serves as a crucial indicator of the escalating temperature trends and the exacerbating frequency of extreme weather events, reinforcing the scientific consensus on the urgency of climate action.
In summary, the assertion that 2024 will rank as the hottest year on record is supported by clear scientific data and highlights an alarming trend attributed to human activities. The pervasive impacts of climate change, as evidenced by extreme weather occurrences globally, necessitate an immediate and cooperative response to mitigate future risks. Continued monitoring and proactive measures are vital to adapt to and address the ongoing and projected climate challenges.
Original Source: stratnewsglobal.com
