The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has announced that 2024 is on track to become the hottest year on record, concluding a decade characterized by unprecedented heat attributed to human activities. The global mean surface air temperature for January to September 2024 was reported at 1.54 °C above pre-industrial levels, influenced significantly by an ongoing El Niño phenomenon.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the urgent need for action, stating, "This is climate breakdown in real time. We must exit this road to ruin -- and we have no time to lose." He called for countries to prioritize reducing emissions and transitioning to renewable energy sources.
The WMO plans to publish its final global temperature figures for 2024 in January 2025, followed by a detailed report on the State of the Global Climate in March. Throughout the year, extreme weather events were exacerbated by climate change, with a report indicating that 26 out of 29 studied disasters were intensified by climate factors, resulting in over 3,700 fatalities and displacing millions.
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo stressed that every fraction of a degree in temperature increases the risks associated with climate extremes. Significant rainfall and flooding events occurred globally, alongside intense heat waves that saw temperatures exceeding 50 °C in several regions. The WMO is also focusing on the International Year of Glaciers' Preservation in 2025, aimed at addressing the rapid melting of ice masses worldwide.
The increasing frequency of extreme weather events highlights the necessity for enhanced international cooperation and robust climate policies. Guterres urged immediate action to safeguard public health and ecosystems, stating, "The time to act is now."