Global insurance reports and economic impact assessments

2024 Hottest Year on Record, UN Warns of Climate Breakdown and Urges Action

Dec 30, 2024, 03:42 PM

The year 2024 is set to be the hottest on record, marking the culmination of a decade characterized by unprecedented global temperatures, according to the United Nations. The UN's weather and climate agency reported that the outgoing year will surpass the previous record set in 2023, with the average temperature from January to September 1.54 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average. This record heat has been accompanied by a surge in greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating future climate impacts. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the situation as a 'climate breakdown in real time,' emphasizing the urgent need for countries to dramatically reduce emissions and transition to renewable energy in 2025. Extreme weather events in 2024, including wildfires, heatwaves, floods, and cyclones, have caused significant economic damage and loss of life worldwide, with the ten most costly climate disasters alone amounting to over $200 billion in damages and claiming thousands of lives.