2024 Projected to Be Hottest Year on Record, Urgency for Climate Action Raised

Copernicus Climate Change Service projects that 2024 will be the hottest year on record with temperatures expected to exceed 1.55 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. This forecast highlights the critical need for enhanced climate action as nations prepare for the upcoming UN climate negotiations in Azerbaijan. October 2023 was marked by extreme weather events, reaffirming the urgent climate challenges facing the globe.

The Copernicus Climate Change Service, a European monitoring agency, has projected that 2024 is “virtually certain” to be the warmest year in recorded history, with global temperatures expected to exceed 1.55 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels. This alarming forecast arrives just days before critical UN climate negotiations in Azerbaijan, emphasizing the urgent need for escalated efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The agency noted that October 2023 was marked by extreme weather events and was the second hottest October on record, reflecting ongoing climate trends that pose significant risks globally. As average temperatures rise, scientists warn of severe repercussions, highlighting that every fraction of a degree of warming intensifies the impact of climate change.

The urgency to address climate change has intensified as global temperatures continue to rise, surpassing established thresholds. The Paris Agreement aims to limit warming to below 2 degrees Celsius, preferably maintaining it at 1.5 degrees. However, recent data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service indicates that average temperatures are projected to exceed this critical limit in 2024, underscoring the importance of immediate action. The upcoming UN climate negotiations in Azerbaijan will set the framework for new carbon-cutting targets necessary to combat these escalating climate challenges.

In summary, the Copernicus Climate Change Service’s forecast for 2024 to be the hottest year on record is a clarion call for heightened climate action amid rising global temperatures. The urgency of addressing climate change is emphasized by the warning that the planet is exceeding the critical 1.5-degree limit, with potentially disastrous consequences. The forthcoming UN negotiations will be pivotal in establishing necessary measures to enhance global commitment to reducing emissions and mitigating climate impacts.

Original Source: www.lemonde.fr