As 2024 approaches its end, scientists report it is on track to become the hottest year on record. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released its latest State of the Climate report during the COP29 climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, revealing alarming trends in global temperatures and ocean heat content.
The report indicates that from June 2023 to September 2024, the global mean temperature likely exceeded previous records. Between January and September 2024, the average global air temperature was 1.54°C above the pre-industrial average, temporarily surpassing the critical threshold of 1.5°C set in the Paris Agreement.
Oceans, which absorb about 90% of excess heat from global warming, reached record temperatures in 2023, and preliminary data suggest this trend continues into 2024. This oceanic heat is irreversible and will have long-term consequences.
Additionally, glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates, with losses in 2023 equivalent to five times the volume of water in the Dead Sea. This accelerated melting contributes to rising sea levels, which are increasing at over double the rate observed in the 1990s.
The WMO emphasizes the urgency for immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance climate adaptation strategies to mitigate these escalating impacts.