2024 Set to Become Hottest Year on Record, Warns EU Scientists
The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service has declared that 2024 will likely be the hottest year on record, with temperatures exceeding pre-industrial averages. This alarming trend is associated with severe global weather events and underscores the inadequacy of recent climate financing initiatives. With rising CO2 emissions, the long-term outlook remains concerning, despite potential temporary cooling from La Niña.
According to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), 2024 is projected to become the hottest year on record, with average global temperatures expected to maintain elevated levels into early 2025. The report emphasizes that this year marks the first time average global temperatures have surpassed 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. This finding follows a recent $300 billion climate initiative that has faced criticism from poorer nations for being inadequate amid rising climate-related disasters.
Extreme weather events have become increasingly frequent in 2024, resulting in severe droughts across Italy and South America, fatal flooding in several countries, and record-breaking heatwaves in regions such as Mexico and Mali. This weather pattern correlates with scientific findings attributing these disasters to human-induced climate change. C3S highlights this year’s November as the second-hottest on record, further indicating prolonged high temperature trends.
While global efforts have been made to curb carbon dioxide emissions in line with governmental pledges, emissions are projected to reach record levels this year. Climate researchers are also observing the potential development of the La Niña weather phenomenon in 2025, which may temporarily cool global temperatures but will not reverse the long-term warming trend caused by greenhouse gas emissions. The overall consensus within the scientific community warns that even if temperatures drop slightly in 2025, extreme weather patterns, including heatwaves and droughts, are likely to persist.
The report on 2024’s climatic extremes is rooted in an ongoing conversation surrounding global climate change, driven by human activities and particularly the emissions from fossil fuel consumption. Established scientific principles indicate that rising average temperatures lead to severe weather events, catastrophic ecological changes, and significant socio-economic impacts worldwide. The findings from C3S provide critical insights into the ongoing consequences of climate inaction, particularly emphasized by the criticism of recently unveiled climate financing initiatives that inadequately address the urgent needs of vulnerable populations. C3S has been providing reliable climate data since 1940, aligning it with temperature records that date back to 1850, enabling a comprehensive understanding of historical climate trends and the pressing realities of future projections. The scrutiny of La Niña potential adds another layer to the understanding of climate variability, underscoring the need for a long-term strategy to stabilize global temperatures and mitigate further environmental degradation.
In summary, 2024 is poised to be the hottest year on record, as confirmed by the Copernicus Climate Change Service. The increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events underscore the critical state of our climate, exacerbated by insufficient international agreements on climate financing. Despite pledges to reduce carbon emissions, levels continue to rise, further complicating efforts to combat climate change. Moving forward, it remains essential to adopt holistic strategies to address these challenges effectively and protect vulnerable populations from the adverse effects of climate change.
Original Source: bdnews24.com
