Wed Mar 19 09:01:34 UTC 2025: ## UN Report: 2024 Sets Record for Heat, Sea Level Rise, and Extreme Weather
**Geneva** – A new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) paints a stark picture of the accelerating climate crisis. 2024 marked the hottest year on record, surpassing even the record-breaking temperatures of 2023, with global average temperatures exceeding pre-industrial levels by 1.5 degrees Celsius for the first time. This surge in temperatures is attributed to rising greenhouse gas emissions and the 2023-2024 El Niño event.
Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels reached a staggering 420 parts per million (ppm) in 2023 – the highest in 800,000 years – representing a 2.3 ppm increase from 2022. This translates to 3,276 gigatonnes of CO2 in the atmosphere. The past decade (2015-2024) has been the warmest on record, with the last eight years setting new highs for ocean heat content. Around 90% of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases is absorbed by the oceans, leading to significant warming, disruptions to marine life, altered weather patterns, and rising sea levels.
The report highlights the devastating consequences of this warming trend. 2024 witnessed a record number of displacements due to extreme weather events such as tropical cyclones, floods, and droughts – the highest in 16 years. These events exacerbated food crises and caused massive economic losses. Global mean sea level reached its highest point since satellite records began in 1993, with the rate of sea level rise doubling between 1993-2002 and 2015-2024 (from 2.1 mm/year to 4.7 mm/year). Glacier mass balance also reached a record low over the period 2022-2024.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized that while the 1.5°C warming threshold was exceeded in 2024, limiting long-term global temperature rise to this level remains achievable. He urged global leaders to accelerate the transition to clean renewable energy. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo cautioned that while a single year above 1.5°C doesn’t negate the Paris Agreement goals, it underscores the escalating risks to lives, economies, and the planet. The report suggests several factors contributed to the exceptionally high temperatures, including changes in the solar cycle, volcanic eruptions, and a decrease in cooling aerosols.
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