Earth Exceeds 1.5°C Threshold for the First Time in 2024

In a historic climate development, 2024 became the first year in recorded history that global temperatures surpassed the critical 1.5°C threshold above pre-industrial levels, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). This milestone signals a troubling path for global warming, bringing the world closer to a point of irreversible damage. Climate experts warn that if this trend persists without significant emission reductions, global temperatures could exceed the 2°C limit by 2050, leading to severe impacts on ecosystems, economies, and human livelihoods.

Key Findings from the Report:

• Record Global Temperatures in 2024:

  • 2024 saw the global average temperature reach 15.1°C, making it the warmest year on record.
  • Temperatures were 1.60°C higher than pre-industrial levels (1850-1900) and 0.72°C above the 1991-2020 average.
  • Every month from January to June 2024 was the warmest on record for those respective months.
  • July 22, 2024, marked the hottest day ever, with a global temperature of 17.16°C.

• Record Sea Surface Temperatures (SSTs):

  • The average sea surface temperature for 2024 was 20.87°C, the highest ever recorded.
  • SSTs were at record levels for the first half of the year, and from July to December, they were the second warmest after 2023.

• The Impact of El Niño:

  • The El Niño event, which began in June 2023, contributed significantly to the record temperatures of 2024 by warming the Central Equatorial Pacific Ocean and affecting global climate patterns.
  • The expected La Niña cooling effect did not occur in 2024.

• Climate Risks for Developing Economies:

  • Developing nations remain particularly vulnerable to climate-related disasters, such as floods, droughts, and heatwaves.
  • The failure of climate talks at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, underscores the difficulty in securing financial support for mitigation efforts.
  • Experts warn that developing countries will need to allocate more resources to address climate impacts, potentially hindering their ability to pursue mitigation strategies.

• Urgent Need for Emissions Reductions:

  • Scientific assessments indicate that global greenhouse gas emissions must peak before 2025 and decrease by 43% by 2030 to prevent catastrophic warming.
  • Current national commitments are insufficient, with countries' pledges resulting in only a 2.6% reduction in emissions by 2030.
  • In 2023, global carbon emissions reached 53 billion tonnes, continuing a trend of year-on-year increases, with the exception of 2020 due to the pandemic.

• Warnings from Climate Experts:

  • Roxy Mathew Koll, a climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, cautions that the current trajectory is irreversible without significant global action on carbon emissions.
  • Joeri Rogelj, Director of Research at the Grantham Institute, stresses that even small temperature increases cause substantial harm to people and ecosystems.
  • Vaibhav Chaturvedi, Senior Fellow at CEEW, emphasizes that without financial assistance from wealthier nations, developing economies will suffer the most from climate disasters.