2024 Was the Warmest Year: Ten Alarming Things That Are Happening to the Climate

2024 will go down in history as the hottest year on recordand marked a turning point in the global climate crisis. For the first time, the global average temperature has exceeded pre-industrial levels by 1.5°C (1850-1900), a critical threshold identified by the Paris Agreement, a wake-up call for the planet and humanity. Data provided by the Copernicus Climate Change Service shows that the planet is entering a phase of unprecedented warmingwith increasingly dramatic consequences for the ecosystem and for humanity.

Here are ten disturbing facts that highlight the urgency of addressing this crisis.

Global average temperatures have risen to unprecedented levels

In 2024, the global average temperature, reaching 15.10°C, exceeded the average for the period 1991-2020 by 0.72°C and pre-industrial levels by 1.60°C. This value represents a further increase compared to the previous record of 2023, exceeded by 0.12°C.

The critical threshold of 1.5°C was exceeded for 11 months out of 12

Every month in 2024 except July recorded temperatures at least 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. This shows that we are experiencing an exceptional climate condition that could become the new norm if drastic measures are not taken.

July 22, 2024 was the hottest day on record

The global average temperature on July 22 reached 17.16°C, setting a new historical record. This value represents a sign of the persistence and intensity of extreme heat waves globally.

The oceans are warmer than ever

The average surface temperature of the extra-polar oceans in 2024 was 20.87°C, exceeding the 1991-2020 average by 0.51°C. Oceans, which absorb much of atmospheric heat, are becoming a climate time bomb, contributing to extreme events such as more intense hurricanes and rising sea levels.

Europe experienced its warmest year

2024 was the warmest year on record in Europe, with an average temperature of 10.69°C, 1.47°C higher than the 1991-2020 average and 0.28°C higher than the previous record set in 2020. Spring and summer were the warmest seasons on record, with temperature anomalies of 1.50°C and 1.54°C, respectively.

Atmospheric water vapor has reached record levels

The total amount of water vapor in the atmosphere has increased by 5% compared to the 1991-2020 average, contributing to extreme weather phenomena. Water vapor is a potent greenhouse gas that amplifies the effect of global warming, exacerbating heat waves and intense precipitation.

Unprecedented heat stress

In 2024, 44% of the planet experienced at least one day with conditions of “strong” or “extreme” heat stress, a new annual record. This phenomenon has had a devastating impact on human health, particularly in the most vulnerable regions, and on agriculture, compromising vital crops.

Antarctica and the Arctic in crisis

For eight months of 2024, sea ice extent in Antarctica reached record or near-record values. In November, the extension was the lowest on record. After a near-average start to the year, Arctic sea ice extent fell well below normal in the second half of the year, reaching its fifth annual minimum in September.

Record concentrations of greenhouse gases

Atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and methane reached unprecedented levels in 2024: for the former, 422 parts per million (ppm), an increase of 2.9 ppm compared to 2023. For the latter, 1897 parts per billion (ppb), an increase of 3 ppb compared to the previous year. These values ​​indicate that global emissions continue to grow, fueling climate change.

El Niño amplified global warming

The natural phenomenon of El Niño, which began in 2023, has contributed to increasing global temperatures, amplifying ocean warming and climate anomalies in 2024. However, the main contributor remains anthropogenic climate change, which is accelerating global warming at an alarming rate.