Thu Jan 02 06:01:03 UTC 2025: ## China Records Hottest Year on Record Amidst Global Warming Surge

**Beijing, [Date]** – China has experienced its warmest year ever recorded, according to the China Meteorological Administration (CMA). The average national temperature in 2024 reached 10.92 degrees Celsius (51.66 degrees Fahrenheit), surpassing the previous record and marking a full degree Celsius increase over 2023. This is the culmination of four consecutive years setting new national temperature highs since comparable records began in 1961.

The CMA reports that all ten of China’s warmest years since 1961 have occurred in the 21st century, highlighting the accelerating impact of climate change. Major cities like Shanghai also experienced record-breaking temperatures, with the city recording its warmest year since records began in 1873. Other regions endured exceptionally long heatwaves, with Guangzhou experiencing a record 240 days above 22C (71.6F).

The rising temperatures have been accompanied by increasingly severe weather events. Devastating floods across the country in 2024 resulted in dozens of fatalities and thousands of evacuations. A highway collapse in southern China, attributed to prolonged rainfall, claimed 48 lives. Conversely, other areas faced severe drought and heat, impacting regions including Sichuan and Chongqing.

Environmental groups, such as Greenpeace, have voiced alarm over the escalating frequency and intensity of extreme heat events in China, emphasizing the growing threat to livelihoods and infrastructure. The UN echoed these concerns, declaring 2024 the warmest year globally.

The increased economic toll of climate-related disasters is also substantial. Swiss Re estimates that these events caused approximately $310 billion in economic losses worldwide in 2024. Experts link these trends to global warming, driven primarily by fossil fuel emissions, resulting in greater atmospheric water vapor and intensified storms and rainfall. China’s record-breaking temperatures serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for global action to mitigate climate change.

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