UN Reports Extreme Weather and Heat in 2024 Due to Climate Change
The UN warns that climate change has led to extreme weather and record heat in 2024. This year is projected to be the warmest on record with emissions at an all-time high. Severe weather events have caused loss of life and economic damage globally, prompting urgent calls for action to reduce emissions and transition to renewable energy.
The United Nations reported on Monday that climate change has precipitated a series of extreme weather events and record temperatures in 2024, emphasizing the urgent need for global action to avert further disaster. According to the World Meteorological Organization, this year is anticipated to be the hottest on record, marking the conclusion of a decade characterized by unprecedented heat. Furthermore, greenhouse gas emissions have surged to alarming new heights, committing the planet to continued warming in the future.
Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization, stated, “Climate change plays out before our eyes on an almost daily basis in the form of increased occurrence and impact of extreme weather events.” He elaborated on the severe consequences faced worldwide, including record-breaking rainfall, devastating flooding, and the tragic loss of lives across various countries. Unprecedented tropical cyclones and scorching heat, reaching over 50 degrees Celsius in several instances, have led to widespread wildfires and economic destruction.
The 2015 Paris Climate Agreement sought to restrict global warming to below two degrees Celsius relative to pre-industrial levels, ideally aiming for just 1.5 degrees Celsius. The World Meteorological Organization indicated that the average surface air temperature from January to September stood at 1.54 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial figures, indicating that 2024 is on track to surpass the previous year’s records.
In his New Year address, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres acknowledged, “Today I can officially report that we have just endured a decade of deadly heat. The top 10 hottest years on record have happened in the last 10 years, including 2024.” He warned against the ongoing trajectory, emphasizing the imperative to transition towards renewable energy sources and drastically reduce emissions by 2025. Guterres concluded, “It is essential, and it is possible,” asserting the necessity for immediate action to mitigate climate change before it escalates further.
The report presented by the United Nations underscores the increasingly dire consequences of climate change, which have manifested in extreme weather patterns globally. With the year 2024 poised to set a new record for high temperatures, climate scientists are alarmed by the unprecedented rise in greenhouse gas emissions which correlates with these extreme weather events. The background context includes the 2015 Paris accords aimed at limiting warming, the global commitment to transition to renewable energy, and the pressing need to heed scientific warnings regarding climate destabilization.
In conclusion, the UN’s assessment of climate change and its severe impacts in 2024 highlights an urgent call to action for nations worldwide. With record temperatures and unprecedented natural disasters becoming the norm, there exists an immediate necessity for significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and a transition to renewable energy systems. The implications of inaction are perilous; thus, global leaders must prioritize climate initiatives to establish a sustainable and safer future for all.
Original Source: www.barrons.com
