The latest report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has revealed that 2024 was the most extreme year for human-induced climate change, with some of its consequences being irreversible for hundreds of years. The report highlights significant economic and social disruptions caused by extreme weather events across the globe.
According to WMO’s State of the Global Climate report, 2024 was likely the first full calendar year to surpass 1.5°C above the pre-industrial era, with a global mean near-surface temperature of 1.55 ± 0.13°C above the 1850-1900 average. This makes it the warmest year recorded in 175 years of observational history. The report also confirmed that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have reached their highest in 800,000 years, with each of the past ten years ranking among the ten warmest years ever recorded. It further highlights that ocean heat content, Arctic and Antarctic ice loss, and sea level rise have all reached unprecedented levels.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the urgency of climate action, stating that while long-term global temperature rise can still be limited to 1.5°C, immediate and decisive action is necessary. He urged world leaders to invest in clean energy and renewables to mitigate climate risks. Similarly, WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo warned that a single year above 1.5°C does not mean the Paris Agreement's goals are lost, but it serves as a stark warning about increasing risks to human lives, economies, and ecosystems.
The report attributes the record-breaking temperatures of 2023 and 2024 to rising greenhouse gas emissions, a shift from La Niña to El Niño, and additional factors such as changes in the solar cycle, a massive volcanic eruption, and a reduction in cooling aerosols. WMO experts are conducting further studies to ensure accurate tracking of long-term global temperature changes in alignment with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
In addition to rising temperatures, glaciers are melting at an alarming rate, ocean levels are continuously increasing, and extreme weather events such as cyclones, floods, and droughts have led to the highest number of climate-related displacements in 16 years. These extreme conditions have also worsened global food crises and caused devastating economic losses.
Celeste Saulo stressed the need for stronger early warning systems and climate resilience strategies, noting that only half of the world's countries have adequate early warning mechanisms in place. She called for urgent investments in meteorological and climate services to protect vulnerable communities and reduce the risks of extreme weather.
The report, compiled with contributions from national meteorological agencies, UN partners, and climate experts, underscores the urgent need for global action to mitigate the devastating effects of climate change and ensure a sustainable future.