WMO Confirms 2024 as Hottest Year on Record

2024 has officially been confirmed as the warmest year ever recorded, with global temperatures rising 1.55°C above pre-industrial levels—a first in modern history. Experts say that this is not just a number; it’s a loud wake-up call that we are living through the effects of climate change right now.

Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Celeste Saulo, said, “Climate history is playing out before our eyes,” as she pointed out the ongoing impacts, including extreme weather, rising sea levels, and melting ice.

This year stands out as the 10th consecutive year of record-high temperatures. WMO’s recent analysis shows that even a single year of temperatures exceeding 1.5°C can trigger devastating effects, such as more intense storms and melting ice. UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned, “Today’s assessment from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) proves yet again—global heating is a cold, hard fact.” WMO added that the fact that this is happening amid natural phenomena like El Niño only adds to the urgency.

A new study reveals that ocean heat has played a key role in this record. Oceans have absorbed 90% of the excess heat caused by global warming, making them the warmest ever recorded. The WMO plans to release more details in its 2024 Global Climate report in March.

While surpassing the 1.5°C mark in one year does not mean the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement are out of reach, Saulo cautioned, “Every additional increment of global warming increases the impacts on our lives, economies, and our planet.”