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2024: Record-Breaking Heat and the Urgent Need for Climate Action

The year 2024 is on track to be the warmest year on record, exceeding the 1.5°C threshold temporarily. Record greenhouse gas emissions, ocean warming, glacial melt, and extreme weather events highlight the urgent need for climate action.

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Germany

Climate ChangeEnergy SecurityEnvironmentSustainabilityExtreme WeatherGlobal Warming

World Meteorological Organization (Wmo)United Nations (Un)

Celeste SauloAntónio Guterres

What are the key factors driving the current state of global warming?: Record-high greenhouse gas emissions in 2023 are projected to increase further in 2024. The oceans are absorbing excess heat, reaching record-high temperatures in 2023 and continuing to warm in 2024. This ocean warming is irreversible, and its impacts will persist for centuries.
What urgent actions are needed to address the escalating climate crisis?: Urgent actions are needed to mitigate the effects of climate change: reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving adaptation strategies. The WMO report emphasizes that every fraction of a degree increase in global warming worsens climate extremes like heatwaves, droughts, floods and wildfires, hence the need to rapidly address the issue.
What are the implications of exceeding the 1.5-degree Celsius warming threshold?: Exceeding the 1.5-degree Celsius threshold signifies that the Earth is entering a danger zone, potentially triggering climate tipping points leading to further warming. Scientists warn that surpassing this limit could lead to irreversible climate catastrophe and endanger global livelihoods.
How is glacial melt affecting sea levels and what is the severity of this effect?: The accelerated melting of glaciers, with a record loss of 1.2 meters of water equivalent in 2023, is contributing to a faster-than-ever rise in sea levels. This loss is five times the volume of water in the Dead Sea. This rise, in turn, exacerbates existing climate problems, particularly for low-lying island nations.
Does temporarily surpassing the 1.5-degree Celsius mark in a year negate the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement?: The long-term trend, despite temporary exceedances like in 2024, remains below the critical 1.5°C threshold. The current long-term estimate is around 1.3°C above pre-industrial levels, according to the WMO report. While temporary spikes are possible due to natural phenomena, sustained global temperature increases are crucial.

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Jan 23, 04:13

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