The prediction that 2024 would be the warmest year on record has become a reality. The average global temperature also exceeded 1.5°C above its pre-industrial level, synonymous with the worst climate impacts.
The European Union's climate service Copernicus – the agency that monitors surface air and sea temperatures, sea ice cover, and hydrological changes globally – has confirmed that 2024 was the world's warmest year on record.
"All datasets show that 2024 was the hottest year since records began in 1850," Copernicus Director Carlo Buontempo said. The global average temperature was 15.10°C, 0.12°C above the global average of 2023, the previous warmest year.
"Such high global temperatures, coupled with record global atmospheric water vapour levels, meant unprecedented heatwaves and heavy rainfall events, causing misery for millions."
Driven by greenhouse gas emissions
This figure is 1.60°C above the 1850-1900 temperature, or pre-industrial level. "2024 is the first year that reached more than 1.5°C above the pre-industrial level," Buontempo said. World leaders promised in 2015 to try to limit the long-term temperature rise to 1.5°C. The Paris Agreement's temperature goal is seen as crucial to avoid the most damaging impacts.
This first year-long breach doesn't mean the landmark Paris Agreement failed – for this, the level must be reached over several years. "However, it underscores that global temperatures are rising beyond what modern humans have ever experienced."
Inner Lake George, Anchorage in Alaska, USA. Credit: Belga / Eric Lalmand
The monthly global average temperature exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels for 11 months of 2024. Going back further, all months since July 2023 – except July 2024 – have exceeded the 1.5°C level.
The main driver of the increasing global temperature remains human-induced climate change. This is caused by a global increase in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in the atmosphere from burning fossil fuels, deforestation and farming livestock, among others. The atmospheric GHG reached its highest annual levels ever last year.
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"Other factors, such as the El Niño Southern Oscillation [a recurring climate pattern involving changes in central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean temperature of waters] also contributed to the unusual temperatures."
"Humanity is in charge of its destiny but how we respond to the climate challenge should be based on evidence," said Buontempo. "The future is in our hands – swift and decisive action can still alter the trajectory of our future climate."
