The year 2024 is anticipated to be the hottest on record, concluding a decade marked by extraordinary heat driven by human activities, as reported by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
In a recent report, the WMO indicated that greenhouse gas concentrations continue to rise, reaching unprecedented levels and trapping even more heat for the future.
The WMO also mentioned that it will disclose the overall global temperature figure for 2024 in January, with the complete State of the Global Climate 2024 report set to follow in March 2025.
Why does every degree matter?
“Every fraction of a degree of warming matters, and increases climate extremes, impacts, and risks,” stated WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo. “Temperatures are only part of the picture. Climate change unfolds before our eyes on an almost daily basis in the form of increased occurrence and impact of extreme weather events.”
This year experienced record-setting rainfall and flooding, leading to significant loss of life across numerous countries and causing heartbreak in communities worldwide. “Tropical cyclones inflicted a heavy human and economic toll, most recently in the French overseas department of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean. Intense heat scorched many nations, with temperatures exceeding 50 °C on several occasions, while wildfires caused widespread devastation.”
Read more | La Niña’s impact on 2024’s record-breaking heat: What you need to know
Urgency of climate adaptation initiatives
The increasingly severe weather emphasizes the importance of the “Early Warnings for All” initiative, which, alongside enhancing climate service development and delivery, is a central aspect of the WMO’s efforts to promote climate adaptation. In terms of climate mitigation, the WMO is launching the Global Greenhouse Gas Watch initiative and supporting the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and COP.
Focus on the cryosphere in 2025
The WMO announced that in 2025 there will be a strong emphasis on the cryosphere—the frozen regions of Earth, including sea ice, ice sheets, and permafrost—as it marks the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, facilitated by UNESCO and the WMO.
Impact of climate change on weather events
Climate change exacerbated 26 out of the 29 weather events analyzed by World Weather Attribution, which resulted in at least 3,700 fatalities and displaced millions, according to a recent report from World Weather Attribution and Climate Central. The report further noted that climate change contributed to an additional 41 days of hazardous heat in 2024, negatively impacting human health and ecosystems.
As global temperatures continue to rise and extreme heat events grow more frequent and intense, there is an increasing necessity for enhanced international collaboration to mitigate extreme heat risks, stated the WMO.
A specialized group of experts representing 15 international organizations, 12 nations, and several prominent academic and NGO partners convened at WMO headquarters from December 17-19 to develop a coordinated framework for addressing the escalating threat of extreme heat. This effort responds to the UN Secretary-General’s Call to Action on extreme heat.
