Warmest Year on Record: WMO Confirms 2024
By CCN News | Published: Jan 11, 2025
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The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has confirmed that 2024 was the warmest year on record, with the global average surface temperature reaching approximately 1.55°C above pre-industrial levels. This marks a significant milestone in the ongoing trend of record-breaking temperatures, as the past decade (2015-2024) has consistently ranked among the ten warmest years recorded. The confirmation underscores the alarming pace of climate change, which is impacting ecosystems, economies, and communities worldwide.
Ocean Warming Contributes to Record Temperatures
The unprecedented heat in 2024 was largely driven by a combination of exceptional land and sea surface temperatures, as well as a dramatic increase in ocean heat content. Studies reveal that the world’s oceans reached record-high temperatures, with the upper 2000 meters of the ocean experiencing a significant rise in heat. Oceans play a critical role in absorbing excess heat from global warming, with around 90% of this heat being stored in the oceans. The recent surge in ocean temperatures highlights the urgent need to address the accelerating effects of climate change on the planet's water systems.
Image Source: The World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
Urgency to Meet Paris Agreement Goals
Despite the record-breaking temperatures of 2024, experts caution that a single year exceeding 1.5°C does not necessarily mean the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement have been missed. However, they stress that every fraction of a degree of warming intensifies the global impacts, such as rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and the accelerating melting of ice. While short-term temperature anomalies, such as those caused by the El Niño phenomenon, contribute to these spikes, the long-term trend of global warming is undeniable.
The WMO's analysis is based on six internationally recognized datasets from institutions including NASA, NOAA, and the UK’s Met Office. These datasets collectively confirm that 2024 was the warmest year on record. Moving forward, climate experts and policymakers emphasize the need for continued and enhanced efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the inevitable changes brought about by a warming world. In March 2025, the WMO will release its comprehensive State of the Global Climate 2024 report, providing further insights into key climate indicators and the global response to climate challenges.
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