2024 declared hottest year on record, experts issue stark climate warning

2024 also marked a significant milestone, with global temperatures reaching 1.60°C above pre-industrial levels, exceeding the critical 1.5°C limit for the first time in a calendar year.

In Short

• 2024 was recorded as hottest year globally at 15.10°C
• Global temperature hit 1.60°C above pre-industrial levels
• Antarctic sea ice at record low for second year

2024 has officially been recorded as the hottest year in history, with a global average temperature of 15.10°C, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). This surpasses the previous record set in 2023 by 0.12°C.

The year also marked a significant milestone, with global temperatures reaching 1.60°C above pre-industrial levels, exceeding the critical 1.5°C limit for the first time in a calendar year.

The past decade (2015-2024) has been the warmest on record, highlighting the intensifying trend of global warming. Since July 2023, all months except for July 2024 exceeded the 1.5°C threshold. The average global temperature for 2023-2024 stood at 1.54°C above pre-industrial levels, according to the C3S report accessed by India Today.

While 2024 was the warmest year on all continents except Antarctica and Australasia, the global impact was undeniable. A new record for daily global average temperature was set on July 22, 2024, at 17.16°C.

The Antarctic sea ice reached record-low levels for the second consecutive year, with monthly extents ranking second lowest from June to October and hitting a new low in November.

Greenhouse gas concentrations also reached unprecedented levels in 2024, with carbon dioxide averaging 422 ppm (parts per million) and methane at 1897 ppb (parts per billion). These record-high levels contribute to increased atmospheric water vapour, which, in turn, intensifies heavy rainfall events.

GLOBAL IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Prominent climate scientists highlighted the dire implications of these findings.

Dr Friederike Otto from Imperial College London said, "This record needs to be a reality check. The climate is heating to levels we have spent years trying to avoid because countries are still burning huge amounts of oil, gas and coal."

Otto also cited recent extreme weather events, including floods in Valencia, hurricanes in the US, typhoons in the Philippines, and drought in the Amazon, as clear examples of climate change's worsening effects.

Dr Paulo Ceppi, a climate science expert from Imperial College, noted that while 2025 might not be as hot as 2024 due to natural processes like El Nino, the long-term upward trend remains unchanged. "Countries must reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero as quickly as possible to prevent further catastrophic climate events," Ceppi said.

In South Asia, the effects of climate change have been particularly pronounced. Prof Anjal Prakash from the Indian School of Business emphasised the region's vulnerability to rising temperatures, citing risks such as intensified heatwaves, flooding and agricultural disruption.

"Immediate, evidence-based action is essential to mitigate these effects, embracing sustainable practices and policies prioritising climate resilience," Prakash said.