The year 2024 has been marked as the hottest on record, with a global average surface temperature exceeding pre-industrial levels by 1.55ºC, according to a recent report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). This result represents a concerning milestone, as the previous year had also shown an increase of 1.5°C compared to the 1850-1900 average.
The WMO has noted that the past decade has been the warmest since records began, with each of the last ten years ranking among the top ten hottest in history. UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized that global warming is an undeniable reality, though he stressed that “all is not lost.” Guterres called on governments to redouble efforts and present new national climate action plans this year, with the aim of limiting long-term global temperature rise to 1.5°C and thus protecting the most vulnerable communities from the devastating effects of climate change.
Guterres assured that there is still time to avoid the most serious consequences of the climate crisis, as long as immediate action is taken. Celeste Saulo, WMO Secretary-General, emphasized that record temperatures are directly linked to extreme weather, sea level rise, and ice mass reduction, all of which are the result of unprecedented levels of greenhouse gases generated by human activities.
Additionally, the WMO explained that recent warming has also been influenced by natural phenomena such as El Niño, which persisted from mid-2023 until May 2024. The ocean has played a crucial role in this warming, with record temperatures recorded both at the surface and in the first 2000 meters, storing approximately 90% of the excess heat from global warming.
In the face of this alarming context, it is essential to carry out comprehensive monitoring and provide clear information on temperature trends in relation to the goals of the Paris Agreement, in order to properly guide policymakers in their future decisions. The WMO has announced that it will release a more detailed report on the state of the global climate in March 2025, addressing key indicators of climate change and offering a more complete picture of current trends.
Source: MiMub in Spanish
