- By Kamakshi Bishnoi
- Fri, 10 Jan 2025 01:59 PM (IST)
- Source:AP
Planet Earth witnessed its hottest year ever in 2024, surpassing all previous temperature records. The European Commission's Copernicus Climate reported that the year 2024 breached the long-term warming limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) since the late 1800s which was outlined by the 2015 Paris climate pact.
“The 1.5 degree C threshold isn't just a number — it's a red flag. Surpassing it even for a single year shows how perilously close we are to breaching the limits set by the Paris Agreement,” Northern Illinois University climate scientist Victor Gensini said in an email, as reported by news agency Associated Press.
The last 10 years have been recorded as the hottest decade in the last 1,25,000 years. The global average of 2023 was easily eclipsed in 2024 by an eighth of a degree Celsius (more than a fifth of a degree Fahrenheit). Conditions are expected to worsen as the study predicts the new year to rank the warmest among them. January 2025 could already have witnessed severe conditions in the US as the wildfire in LA contributed to the disaster.
2025 to rank as the warmest year (Image: Reuters)
July 10, 2024, was reported as the hottest day ever in history with the average temperature being 17.16 degrees Celsius (62.89 degrees Fahrenheit). “This is a warning light going off on the Earth's dashboard that immediate attention is needed,” University of Georgia meteorology professor Marshall Shepherd said.
The Copernicus team recorded a rise of 1.6 degrees Celsius (2.89 degrees Fahrenheit), Japan reported 1.57 degrees Celsius (2.83 degrees Fahrenheit), and the UK calculated 1.53 degrees Celsius (2.75 degrees Fahrenheit). American agencies, including NASA and NOAA, are expected to confirm these findings.
Primary Reason For The Rise
“The primary reason for these record temperatures is the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. As greenhouse gases continue to accumulate, temperatures rise, sea levels increase, and glaciers and ice sheets melt,” said Samantha Burgess, strategic climate lead at Copernicus.
The greenhouse effect refers to the process of trapping heat near the Earth’s surface by greenhouse gases making the Earth warmer. Due to the excess burning of coal, oil and gases, the temperature is rising faster making the Earth warmer than ever.
More Warnings For The Upcoming Year
Scientists predicted that 2025 might witness the La Nina cooling effect, and yet be ranked as the warmest year. According to Copernicus, January 2025 has already seen the hottest start to a year.
“We are facing a very new climate and challenges that our society is unprepared for,” Carlo Buontempo, director of Copernicus, said.
“This feels like watching the end of a dystopian sci-fi film. We are now reaping what we've sown,” University of Pennsylvania climate scientist Michael Mann said.
