2024 Expected to Be Hottest Year on Record, According to EU Climate Monitor

The Copernicus Climate Change Service forecasts 2024 will be the hottest year on record, surpassing 2023, with temperatures set to exceed the critical 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold. This marks significant climate alarm, as rising temperatures pose a serious risk to the planet. Current pledges to reduce carbon emissions remain unfulfilled, exacerbating the severity of climate change impacts across the globe.

The Copernicus Climate Change Service has reported that 2024 is poised to be the hottest year on record, exceeding the high temperatures of 2023. The agency indicated that 2024 is “effectively certain” to surpass the critical climate threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7F) above pre-industrial levels. This alarming prediction arises from unprecedented global heat observed from January to November this year, marking a significant escalation in climate-related issues.

According to the Copernicus service, which collects data from various sources like satellites and weather stations, current temperatures are likely the warmest the planet has experienced in the last 125,000 years. November 2023 was recorded as the second warmest November overall, with countries like Portugal reporting unprecedented heat levels in the month.

In addition, 2024 will be the first year recorded where temperatures exceed the 1.5C threshold established in the Paris climate agreement. Scientists have warned that maintaining temperatures above this level over extended periods carries severe risks for the planet’s ecosystems. Despite pledges to curb carbon emissions, levels continue to rise, with projections indicating a catastrophic increase of 3.1C if current trends persist.

The impacts of climate change have manifested in the form of extreme weather events, including deadly floods, storms, and droughts in various regions worldwide. The global commitment towards climate action remains a pressing concern, as demonstrated by stagnant emissions from fossil fuels

The recent United Nations climate talks saw developed nations promising $300 billion annually by 2035 for climate aid, an amount deemed insufficient by many experts and advocates. Overall, the outlook remains dire as the critical climate targets slip further from global reach.

The significance of the Copernicus Climate Change Service’s prediction lies in both the data it has gathered since 1940 and its collaborations utilizing additional sources such as ice cores and tree rings to understand historical climate trends. The warning about surpassing the 1.5C benchmark, agreed upon in the Paris Accord, underscores the urgency for international climate action. The rise in global temperatures is attributed primarily to carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion, which continue to increase despite worldwide commitments to shift towards renewable energy. The urgency of these warnings is amplified by recent extreme weather events that highlight the immediate repercussions of climate change.

In summary, the predictions by the Copernicus Climate Change Service point to an unsettling escalation in global temperatures, with 2024 expected to be the hottest year recorded. The breach of the 1.5C threshold brings heightened risks to global ecosystems and human livelihoods. Actual climate action appears insufficient, as exemplified by rising carbon emissions and inadequate financial commitments. The situation calls for immediate and effective interventions to avert catastrophic climate impacts.

Original Source: www.aljazeera.com