NEW DELHI: Year 2024 may be the warmest calendar year on record with a global mean near-surface temperature of 1.55 degrees celsius above the pre-industrial era (1850-1900 average), but the long-term warming (averaged over decades) remains below the Paris Agreement threshold of 1.5 degrees C, said the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) in its final ‘State of the Global Climate’ report.
The report, released on Wednesday, said that long-term global warming is currently estimated to be between 1.34 and 1.41 degree C compared to the 1850-1900 baseline. The Paris Agreement is a globally agreed goal to strive to limit warming to 1.5 degree C above pre-industrial levels.
“While a single year above 1.5 degree C of warming does not indicate that the long-term temperature goals of the Paris Agreement are out of reach, it is a wake-up call that we are increasing the risks to our lives, economies, and to the planet,” said WMO secretary-general Celeste Saulo.
The report attributed the record global temperatures, seen in 2023 and broken in 2024, to the ongoing rise in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, coupled with a shift from a cooling La Niña to warming El Niño event.
It, however, noted that several other factors may have contributed to the unexpectedly unusual temperature jumps, including changes in the solar cycle, a massive volcanic eruption and a decrease in cooling aerosols.
The report also shows the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide was at the highest levels in the last 800,000 years, and the rate of sea level rise has doubled since satellite measurements began in 1993.
Around 90% of the extra heat trapped by GHG is absorbed by the ocean, causing it to warm and affecting marine life, weather patterns, and sea levels. The report shows that the ocean continued to warm in 2024, reaching record high levels.
The sea level rise has cascading damaging impacts on coastal ecosystems and infrastructure, with further impacts from flooding and saltwater contamination of groundwater.
“Our planet is issuing more distress signals — but this report shows that limiting long-term global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius is still possible. Leaders must step up to make it happen — seizing the benefits of cheap, clean renewables for their people and economies – – with new national climate plans due this year, ” said United Nations secretary-general António Guterres.