New York: Europe and the Arabs
A new UN report has confirmed that climate change has reached unprecedented levels in 2024, and that some of the consequences of this human-caused catastrophe will be irreversible "for hundreds, if not thousands, of years," even if the world immediately gets back on track.
The State of the Global Climate report, issued by the World Meteorological Organization, concluded that 2024 was likely the first calendar year in which the Earth's surface temperature exceeded 1.5 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average, making it the warmest year in the 175-year observational record. According to the UN's daily news bulletin, a copy of which we received Wednesday morning.
Key Findings of the Report
The report found that the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere "reached its highest levels in the past 800,000 years." It stated that each of the past ten years has been among the ten warmest years on record, and that each of the past eight years has set "a new record for ocean heat."
The report found that the rate of sea level rise has doubled since satellite measurements began. Climate projections indicate that ocean warming will continue "until at least the end of the 21st century, even under low-carbon emission scenarios."
There's still a chance
In this context, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said: "Our planet is giving off more distress signals, but this report shows that limiting long-term global temperature rise to 1.5°C is still possible. Leaders must make efforts to achieve this, harnessing the benefits of cheap and clean renewable energy for their people and economies, with new national climate plans scheduled to be released this year."
The report noted that long-term global temperature rise remains below the 1.5°C threshold set by the Paris Climate Agreement – ​​currently estimated to be between 1.34 and 1.41°C compared to the 1850-1900 baseline. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo stated that while a temperature rise of more than 1.5°C for a single year does not mean that the long-term temperature goals of the Paris Agreement are out of reach, "it is a wake-up call that we are increasing the risks to our lives, our economies, and our planet."
According to the report, the record global temperatures set in 2023—and broken in 2024—were primarily due to the continued rise in greenhouse gas emissions, coupled with the shift from a cold La Niña to a warm El Niño.
The report also noted several other factors that may have contributed to these unexpected and unusual temperature spikes, including changes in the solar cycle, a massive volcanic eruption, and a decrease in cooling aerosols.
The Big Picture
But temperatures are only a small part of a much larger picture. Ms. Saulo said that the 2024 data shows that the oceans have continued to warm, and that sea levels have continued to rise. She added: "The frozen parts of the Earth's surface, known as the cryosphere, are melting at an alarming rate: glaciers continue to retreat, and Antarctic sea ice has reached its second-lowest level on record. Meanwhile, extreme weather continues to have devastating consequences around the world."
Tropical cyclones, floods, droughts, and other hazards in 2024 led to the highest number of new displacements recorded in the past 16 years, contributed to worsening food crises, and caused massive economic losses.
Saulo said that the World Meteorological Organization and the international community are intensifying efforts to strengthen early warning systems and climate services "to help decision-makers and society as a whole become more resilient to extreme weather and climate."
She emphasized that progress is being made, "but we need to move forward and faster. Only half of the world's countries have adequate early warning systems. This must change." She stressed that investing in weather, water, and climate services is more important than ever to address challenges and build safer and more resilient societies.
The report is based on scientific contributions from national meteorological and hydrological services, WMO regional climate centers, UN partners, and dozens of experts.
It was published ahead of World Meteorological Day on March 23, World Water Day on March 22, and World Glacier Day on March 21.