In 2024, the world is on track to experience its warmest year on record, surpassing the previous record set just a year prior in 2023. This extraordinary temperature rise, driven by anthropogenic climate change and amplified by the El Niño phenomenon, has set off alarm bells globally as climate experts highlight the unprecedented challenges ahead. The current trajectory emphasizes the urgent need for accelerated climate action and adaptive strategies to manage escalating climate-related impacts.

According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), the first ten months of 2024 have already exhibited a global temperature anomaly significantly above historical averages, rendering it “virtually certain” that 2024 will end up as the warmest year on record. The average global temperature increase has exceeded the pre-industrial baseline by approximately 1.5°C—a milestone that, while transient, underscores the increasing difficulty in containing warming within the limits set by the Paris Agreement. Climate scientists clarify that a single year reaching or exceeding 1.5°C does not constitute a breach of the Paris Agreement, which envisions a sustained average warming target, yet it highlights how dangerously close the world is to these limits​ (World Meteorological Organization; The Weather Network).

The impacts of 2024’s record temperatures have already manifested through extreme weather events worldwide. This year, major floods, droughts, heatwaves, and wildfires have intensified, hitting countries across every continent. For example, parts of South America, Africa, and Europe faced record-breaking summer heat, leading to increased risks of wildfires and agricultural strain. In Bangladesh, extreme flooding destroyed vital rice crops, triggering food price surges and worsening food security. This uptick in extreme events underscores the link between temperature rise and climate variability, with even fractional degrees contributing to drastic weather changes​ (Carbon Brief).

Another concerning development is the heightened warming of the world’s oceans, which reached record temperatures in 2023 and have shown no signs of cooling in 2024. Warmer oceans not only contribute to more intense tropical storms but also lead to a higher rate of sea-level rise due to the thermal expansion of seawater and accelerated melting of polar ice. The warming oceans contribute approximately 90% of the total heat absorbed by the Earth’s climate system, making oceanic changes a significant driver of the broader climate crisis. This warming trend is projected to continue for centuries, even with immediate emission reductions, indicating that some level of adaptation to rising sea levels and increased storm intensity is unavoidable​ (World Meteorological Organization). .

Greenhouse gas concentrations also continue to rise, with carbon dioxide levels reaching unprecedented highs. Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide—the three primary greenhouse gases—trap heat in the atmosphere and are the primary drivers of climate change. As emissions remain high, and fossil fuel dependency persists, global temperatures are projected to increase further, making adaptation and mitigation efforts critical. In light of the COP29 climate summit, experts emphasize the necessity of robust international action, especially in enhancing funding mechanisms for climate adaptation and supporting vulnerable regions disproportionately affected by climate change​ (The Weather Network; Carbon Brief).

The Paris Agreement, aimed at limiting warming to well below 2°C and striving for 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, is increasingly under threat. Experts suggest that without significant emission reductions, long-term global warming could reach these critical thresholds by the 2030s, leading to irreversible damage. The 2024 temperature milestone, therefore, serves as a stark reminder of the pressing need for coordinated global action to cut emissions and develop adaptive solutions for climate resilience. This year’s record temperatures are not merely an anomaly but a reflection of an ongoing, intensifying climate crisis that necessitates urgent policy shifts to safeguard ecosystems, economies, and communities worldwide.

1. World Meteorological Organization. (2024). “2024 is on track to be the hottest year on record as warming temporarily hits 1.5°C.” Retrieved from wmo.int
2. The Weather Network. (2024). “2024 will be world’s hottest year on record, EU scientists say.” Retrieved from theweathernetwork.com
3. Carbon Brief. (2024). “State of the climate: 2024 now very likely to be warmest year on record.” Retrieved from carbonbrief.org