UN Reports Record Heat and Extreme Weather in 2024 due to Climate Change

The United Nations reported that 2024 is set to be the hottest year on record, largely due to climate change, leading to extreme weather events, increased greenhouse gas emissions, and significant impacts on communities globally. WMO Secretary General Celeste Saulo and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres emphasized the need for immediate and decisive action to mitigate climate change effects and transition to renewable energy sources.

In its recent report, the United Nations has confirmed that climate change has triggered a series of extreme weather events and record heat levels throughout 2024. This year is projected to be the hottest on record, following a decade of unprecedented temperature rises. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) notes that greenhouse gas emissions have reached new highs, creating a feedback loop of additional warming in the future.

“Climate change plays out before our eyes on an almost daily basis in the form of increased occurrence and impact of extreme weather events,” stated WMO Secretary General Celeste Saulo. The impacts of climate change have manifested through record rainfall, devastating floods, and catastrophic human and economic losses, particularly notable in regions affected by tropical cyclones, such as Mayotte in the Indian Ocean.

Intensified heat waves have struck many countries, with temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit). The consequences of wildfires have also been severe, contributing to habitat destruction and loss of life.

The 2015 Paris Agreement intended to limit global warming to well below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, ideally aiming for 1.5 degrees Celsius. The January to September average surface air temperature for 2024 rose to 1.54 degrees Celsius above the long-term average, suggesting that this year will exceed the 2023 record heat by a significant margin.

WMO is expected to release its official global temperature findings for 2024 in January, with a comprehensive report forthcoming in March. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres underscored the critical situation in his New Year message, emphasizing the decade marked by unprecedented heat. He stated, “Today I can officially report that we have just endured a decade of deadly heat. The top 10 hottest years on record have happened in the last 10 years, including 2024.”

Mr. Guterres proclaimed the necessity for immediate action, urging nations to transition towards renewable energy and reduce emissions significantly before 2025. He noted, “We must exit this road to ruin — and we have no time to lose. It is essential, and it is possible.”

The ongoing discourse surrounding climate change highlights its profound effects on global weather patterns and environmental stability. The alarming rate of temperature increases and the corresponding rise in greenhouse gas emissions have prompted urgent appeals from international bodies like the United Nations. The foundation of international climate policy stems from agreements such as the Paris Agreement, which aims to mitigate the impact of climate change by limiting global temperature increases. The WMO’s assessments serve to underscore the severity of the crisis, impacting communities worldwide and necessitating a collective response to prevent further ecological degradation.

In summary, the United Nations has articulated a grave warning regarding the impacts of climate change, identifying 2024 as a pivotal year in the context of extreme weather and record temperatures. As the world encounters unprecedented challenges linked to climate factors, the responsibility to enact meaningful change lies with every nation. Urgent actions toward emissions reduction and the embrace of renewable energy are essential to avert disastrous outcomes for future generations.

Original Source: www.bangkokpost.com