This year is set to be the hottest on record, marking the first time global temperatures surpass 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) announced. From January to October, record-breaking temperatures made it “virtually certain” that 2024 will exceed 2023 as the warmest year since records began. C3S Director Carlo Buontempo emphasized that climate change is the main driver of this milestone, with every continent and ocean experiencing unprecedented warming.
The announcement comes just before the COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan, where global leaders aim to secure increased funding for climate action. Climate scientist Sonia Seneviratne urged faster action on fossil fuel reduction, warning that the world may breach the 1.5°C limit set by the Paris Agreement by 2030 unless stronger measures are taken.
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The rise in temperatures has intensified extreme weather events globally. In October alone, severe floods in Spain, wildfires in Peru, and destructive floods in Bangladesh highlighted the pressing need for climate policies. Each fraction of warming fuels such events, underscoring the urgency of the upcoming climate talks.
