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In 2024, the planet warmed by a record 1.5 °C

Author:
Liza Brovko
Date:

In 2024, climate change caused annual global temperatures to exceed the internationally agreed target of 1.5°C for the first time. The average temperature last year was 1.6°C above pre-industrial levels

The pre-industrial temperature level is the average global temperature observed on Earth before the beginning of the industrial era (approximately until the middle of the 19th century, usually the period 1850–1900).
.

This is evidenced by data from the European Unionʼs climate service Copernicus.

Copernicus data shows that on July 10, 2024, a record 44% of the planet was affected by heat stress — from severe to extreme, and July 22 was the hottest day on record. Every year in the last decade has been among the 10 hottest. Observations have been made since 1850.

“These high global temperatures, combined with record global levels of water vapor in the atmosphere in 2024, caused unprecedented heat and heavy rainfall, affecting millions of people,” said Copernicus Deputy Director Samantha Burgess.

Floods in Valencia, hurricanes in the US, typhoons in the Philippines and drought in the Amazon are just four of the disasters last year that were exacerbated by climate change.

The Paris climate agreement

The Paris Climate Agreement is an international agreement adopted in 2015 at the United Nations Climate Conference (COP21) in Paris.
commits the world to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and ensuring that global temperatures do not rise more than 2°C above pre-industrial levels this century, and to keeping the temperature increase below 1.5°C. This means that 2024 surpassed that target.

Scientists say that the planet Earth is warming at a “dangerous rate.” In order to correct the climate situation, it is necessary to increase the share of renewable energy sources.

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