Earth has recorded its hottest year in history as of 2024, according to multiple weather monitoring agencies announcing this significant data on Friday.
The global average temperature for the past year not only exceeded the previous record set in 2023 but also rose above a crucial climate milestone. This rise crossed the long-term warming threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) compared to pre-industrial levels recorded since the late 1800s, as reported by the European Commission’s Copernicus Climate Service, the UK’s Meteorological Office, and Japan’s weather agency.
The Copernicus team calculated that warming reached 1.6 degrees Celsius (2.89 degrees Fahrenheit), while Japan’s figures indicated 1.57 degrees Celsius (2.83 degrees Fahrenheit), and the UK reported a rise of 1.53 degrees Celsius (2.75 degrees Fahrenheit) in their data updated for early Friday morning in Europe.
U.S. monitoring agencies, including NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), are expected to release their findings later. However, European scientists predict their results will align with this trend of record heat for 2024. These six organizations fill in observational gaps dating back to 1850, although slight variations occur due to their differing methodologies.
Samantha Burgess, a strategic climate lead at Copernicus, stated that the primary factor for these unprecedented temperatures is the accumulation of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas. She emphasized that as these gases build up, average temperatures rise, impacting ocean temperatures, sea level elevation, and the melting of glaciers and ice sheets.
In comparison to 2023, the average temperature last year surpassed the European database’s records by 0.125 degrees Celsius (over a fifth of a degree Fahrenheit), indicating a remarkable jump when historically, record temperatures were typically surpassed by only hundredths of a degree. The past decade is considered the hottest on record, suggesting it has not been this warm in over 125,000 years, according to Burgess.
Notably, July 10 marked the hottest day on record, with an average global temperature of 17.16 degrees Celsius (62.89 degrees Fahrenheit) reported by Copernicus. Scientists stress that fossil fuel use remains the leading contributor to extreme heat, although the temporary El Niño warming pattern in the Pacific Ocean and a volcanic eruption in 2022 played minor roles in affecting atmospheric conditions.
Warnings of these alarming trends are urgent, as stated by Marshall Shepherd, a meteorology professor at the University of Georgia. He pointed to various weather catastrophes, including Hurricane Helene and severe flooding in Spain, as indicators of significant climate shifts. Jennifer Francis from the Woodwell Climate Research Center remarked that while the public may be becoming desensitized to climate change warnings, the seriousness of the situation continues to escalate.
In the U.S., NOAA reported 27 weather-related disasters causing losses of at least $1 billion each, falling just short of the previous year’s record. The total damage from these events reached approximately $182.7 billion, with Hurricane Helene being the deadliest event, claiming at least 219 lives and inflicting damages of $79.6 billion.
Katharine Hayhoe, a climate scientist at Texas Tech, observed a significant increase in the frequency of billion-dollar weather disasters, with a striking shift from an average occurrence every four months in the 1980s to one happening every three weeks now. Kathy Jacobs, a water scientist at the University of Arizona, noted that the rising global temperatures correlate with increasing damages, human health impacts, and adverse effects on ecosystems.
The past year marks the first occasion any year has crossed the critical 1.5-degree threshold, apart from a previous 2023 measurement by Berkeley Earth, which had been backed by skeptical philanthropists regarding climate change.
Scientists caution that the 1.5-degree target is intended for long-term warming, now quantified as an average over two decades. The long-term warming from pre-industrial times currently stands at 1.3 degrees Celsius (2.3 degrees Fahrenheit). Victor Gensini, a climate scientist at Northern Illinois University, characterized the 1.5-degree threshold as a significant warning of how close the world is to surpassing the limits outlined by the Paris Climate Agreement.
Looking ahead, predictions suggest that 2025 may be slightly cooler due to a return to La Niña conditions and may ultimately rank as the third warmest year on record. However, initial data from January reveals a hotter beginning to the year than previously recorded.
Discussions among scientists differ on the pace of global warming. While there isn’t enough data yet to confirm an acceleration in atmospheric warming, the heat content of the oceans appears to be increasing at a faster rate. Carlo Buontempo, Copernicus’ director, expressed concern about society’s preparedness for the new climate challenges we are facing.
Michael Mann, a climate scientist at the University of Pennsylvania, likened the situation to scenes from a dystopian science fiction film, indicating that humanity is now experiencing the consequences of our earlier choices.
