In this year 2024, data collected by European meteorological agencies announces worrying news on the climate change front. Experts from the Copernicus mission reveal that the current year is on track to become the hottest on record. An alarming trend is also emerging, with temperatures estimated to be 1.5 degrees Celsius higher than in the pre-industrial era.
This increase of 0.03 degrees Celsius compared to the record set in 2023 underlines the urgency to act on this environmental crisis. The record heat wave observed over the last 13 consecutive months ended in July, marking a turning point in the international community’s awareness of the need for concrete action.
According to Carlo Buontempo, Director of Copernicus, 2024 is not only expected to be the hottest year on record, but it will also cross the symbolic threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels for the first time. Data collected through billions of measurements from satellites, ships, aircraft and weather stations around the world highlight the magnitude of this phenomenon.
The exceptional warming observed in 2024 is attributed in part to a warmer-than-normal winter in Antarctica, marking a worrying climate trend. While the international community committed to limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius in the Paris Agreement in 2015, it is imperative to redouble efforts to achieve this crucial goal.
Recent extreme weather events highlight the disastrous consequences of a changing climate, particularly for African countries that spend up to 9% of their budgets on climate adaptation policies. The need for an energy transition to address these challenges is at the heart of international climate discussions.
As the United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP, prepares to engage in crucial discussions at its next edition, decision-makers around the world will have the opportunity to take concrete action to combat global warming. It is imperative that countries act in a coordinated and meaningful way to ensure a sustainable future for our planet.