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The World Meteorological Organization and other leading climate institutions revealed on January 10, 2025, that 2024 marked the highest average global temperature ever recorded. For the first time, the average temperature exceeded the critical threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, reaching an alarming 15.10°C. This surpasses last year’s record, emphasizing a trend of increasing global warming since 2015, where each year within that period ranks among the ten warmest on record.
Carlo Buontempo, director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, stressed the urgent need for immediate and decisive action to combat climate change, stating, “The future is in our hands.” These temperature records result not only from human-induced greenhouse gas emissions but also from natural phenomena like the El Niño effect, which influenced 2024's climate patterns.
Significantly, July 22, 2024, set a new daily record with a global temperature of 17.16°C. This unprecedented heat impacted various regions, driving extreme weather events and contributing to increased thermal stress on ecosystems and human health. The year also saw atmospheric water vapor levels rising, resulting in deadly heatwaves and intense rainfall.
While the Paris Agreement aims to limit warming to well below 2°C, projections suggest that continued emissions without drastic reductions could lead to further temperature increases throughout this century. As the international community prepares to renew commitments in 2025, experts emphasize the critical need for concerted efforts to reverse the trajectory of climate change.