Global warming is accelerating — new data from scientists
New data released by the Copernicus Climate Service indicates that 2024 will become the warmest year on record and the first in which the average global temperature surpasses 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Nevertheless, the long-term figure remains below this threshold, although the planet is steadily approaching it and the weather is getting hotter.
This was reported by the BBC.
2024 broke all temperature records
The average temperature in 2024 was 1.6°C above the pre-industrial period, exceeding the 2023 record by 0.1°C. The past decade has been the warmest on record. The main cause of the warming remains anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide, which remain at record levels.
The natural climate phenomenon El Niño has also contributed to the warming, but human activity remains the main driver. According to Samantha Burgess, deputy director of Copernicus, the concentration of greenhouse gases is the main cause of climate change.
The consequences of global warming
Scientists warn that global warming of even a fraction of a degree could lead to more frequent and severe extreme weather events. In 2024, the world saw a scorching heat wave in West Africa, a prolonged drought in South America, intense rainstorms in Central Europe, and devastating tropical storms in North America and South Asia.
Some scientists worry that this could mean accelerating warming.
"I think it's safe to say that the temperatures in both 2023 and 2024 surprised most climate scientists - we didn't think we'd see a year above 1.5C so soon," says one researcher.
The researchers note that Los Angeles suffered from large-scale wildfires primarily because the region had been without rain for a long time.
How humanity can postpone climate catastrophe
Despite the fact that the planet is steadily moving toward crossing the 1.5°C threshold, scientists emphasize that reducing greenhouse gas emissions can have a significant impact on the rate of warming. Dr. Zeke Hausfather notes that every tenth of a degree matters, and limiting warming to even 1.6°C or 1.7°C will significantly reduce the impact on the planet compared to a 3°C or 4°C increase.
Scientists are confident that further climate action, including a transition to renewable energy, can reduce the impact of warming and ensure a sustainable future for the planet.
As a reminder, scientists from Switzerland said that the length of the day has changed on Earth and explained what could have influenced it.
Meanwhile, researchers at Stanford University claim that people's body temperature has changed and become lower than what is generally considered "correct".