2024 Heat Records Exceed Paris Climate Threshold

In 2024, Earth experienced its hottest year on record, surpassing a critical climate threshold of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels for the first time, according to the European Commission’s Copernicus Climate Service and other global agencies. This alarming milestone underscores the persistent rise in global temperatures driven by greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels, despite the 2015 Paris Agreement's goal to limit warming. The year was marked by 27 billion-dollar climate disasters in the U.S., including devastating wildfires and tornadoes, highlighting the increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events. NASA and NOAA data confirm that 2024 saw temperatures 1.47°C above the mid-19th century average, reinforcing the urgency for climate action. Scientists warn that this trend could lead to Pliocene-level warmth, historically associated with significantly higher sea levels, within a century. The findings emphasize the need for immediate and substantial reductions in carbon emissions to mitigate the most catastrophic impacts of climate change.