Mon Nov 11 18:05:17 UTC 2024: ## 2024 on Track to Be Hottest Year Ever, Climate Catastrophe Looms: WMO
**[City, Country] -** The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has issued a stark warning: 2024 is poised to become the hottest year on record, with global temperatures reaching unprecedented levels. This alarming trend, driven by a potent El Nino event and continued greenhouse gas emissions, signifies a critical turning point in the fight against climate change.
A report released on the opening day of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) reveals that the global mean surface temperature for the first nine months of 2024 was 1.54 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Although this figure temporarily surpassed the 1.5-degree Celsius goal set in the Paris Agreement, long-term warming remains around 1.3 degrees Celsius. However, experts stress that even this fraction of a degree increase exacerbates extreme weather events and amplifies climate risks.
The report, titled “State of the Climate 2024,” paints a grim picture of accelerating climate impacts. “Climate catastrophe is hammering health, widening inequalities, harming sustainable development, and rocking the foundations of peace,” warns UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, emphasizing the urgent need for climate action to safeguard vulnerable communities.
Beyond record-breaking temperatures, the report highlights alarming trends in ocean heat content, sea level rise, and glacier loss. Oceans, absorbing over 90% of the excess energy from global warming, reached a historic high in 2023, with this trend continuing in 2024. This poses significant risks for marine life and coastal communities.
Sea levels, propelled by thermal expansion and glacial melt, are rising at a rate more than double that observed between 1993 and 2002. While the rate of increase slightly slowed in 2024, the WMO emphasizes the continuing threat to coastal regions worldwide.
Glaciers are experiencing unprecedented loss, with a record 1.2 meters of water equivalent lost in 2023. This rapid retreat, particularly evident in Switzerland, where glaciers lost 10% of their volume in just two years, impacts mountainous and polar regions, demanding urgent adaptation measures.
Extreme weather events, including deadly heatwaves, severe floods, tropical cyclones, and persistent droughts, have intensified globally. These events are linked to climate change, causing economic losses, food insecurity, and forced migration, hindering sustainable development and causing widespread human suffering.
Adding to the grim picture, greenhouse gas concentrations reached record levels in 2023, with CO2 rising to 420 parts per million, marking a 51% increase from pre-industrial levels. This trend continues in 2024, intensifying atmospheric heat retention and driving further warming. This stark finding underscores the pressing need for global emissions reductions.
The polar ice regions are also experiencing dramatic changes. Antarctic sea ice extent in 2024 was the second lowest since satellite records began, with the Arctic also seeing near-record lows. This loss contributes to global warming feedback loops, impacting ecosystems and weather patterns.
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo emphasizes the importance of climate adaptation, particularly through initiatives like Early Warnings for All (EW4All), which aim to protect communities from extreme weather events. Currently, 108 countries have a Multi-Hazard Early Warning System, a significant step towards enhancing resilience.
The WMO’s findings underscore the urgent need for action. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and implementing effective climate policies are crucial. A team of international experts has been convened to track and communicate climate goals relative to the Paris Agreement and guide policymakers. The future of our planet hangs in the balance.
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