World Meteorological Organization's annual climate report

2024 Warmest Year on Record, Exceeding 1.55°C Threshold, UN Warns of 3°C Risk

Dec 30, 2024, 09:06 AM

The year 2024 has been confirmed as the warmest on record globally, surpassing previous records by a significant margin. This year's average temperature reached 15.12 degrees Celsius, compared to 14.98 degrees in 2023, the former record holder. In specific regions, such as Chicago, Berlin, and Japan, 2024 also marked the warmest year on record, with Berlin's temperature being the highest since records began 116 years ago. The United Nations has declared this year as part of a 'decade of deadly heat', with the top ten hottest years occurring in the last decade. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the urgency of exiting the 'road to ruin' by drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions in 2025 to combat the ongoing climate breakdown. The global temperature increase in 2024 has exceeded the 1.55-degree Celsius threshold set by the Paris Agreement, prompting calls for immediate action to transition to renewable energy sources. There is a risk that if current trends continue, the planet could see a temperature increase of up to 3°C.