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The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has confirmed that 2024 is on track to surpass all previous years in terms of global warmth, with temperatures expected to exceed those of 2023, already a record-setting year. The WMO’s early analysis, which covers data from January to September, paints a worrying picture of a planet continuing to warm at an accelerated rate. This marks yet another alarming milestone in the ongoing climate crisis, which scientists and policymakers warn is moving faster than expected.

WMO’s assessment, based on six major international temperature datasets, indicates that the global average near-surface temperature is reaching unprecedented levels. “We are witnessing the planet’s heat levels escalate beyond what we thought possible,” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo, noting that the figures are based on a comprehensive analysis of data from across the globe.

A Dire Warning Ahead of COP29

The WMO's findings come ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29), to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, where climate leaders are set to gather for critical discussions on the world’s response to the climate emergency. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called the situation “a dire warning for the world.” In a statement, Guterres remarked, "Humanity is torching the planet and paying the price." His words reflect growing concern that the global community has yet to take the urgent action necessary to address the rapidly intensifying impacts of climate change.

The WMO’s upcoming State of the Climate 2024 report, set to be released on November 11, will offer a comprehensive look at the state of global climate systems, including rising sea levels, ocean heat, sea ice loss, and the accelerating collapse of glaciers. It will also delve into the growing frequency of extreme weather events and their devastating consequences for human health, economies, and ecosystems. Celeste Saulo will present the findings live during a press conference at 1400 Baku time (1000 GMT), which will be webcast by the UNFCCC.

International Collaboration in Climate Science

WMO’s analysis draws on data from a range of prestigious international sources, including the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, the UK’s Met Office Hadley Centre, and others. The organization also uses advanced “reanalysis” datasets from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts and the Japan Meteorological Agency, which combine real-time observations with complex weather models to estimate temperature patterns globally, even in remote areas like the polar regions and oceans.