According to data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service, 2024 has become the warmest year on record and the first calendar year in which the average global temperature exceeded pre-industrial levels by 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Scientists warn that the world urgently needs to find solutions to the problem of global warming, as the annual average temperature is currently rising faster than ever before.
Last year, numerous extreme weather events around the globe—from severe storms and floods to droughts and wildfires—resulted in loss of life.
RelatedExperts note that these extreme events are becoming increasingly frequent and intense.
According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, each of the last 10 years—from 2015 to 2024—has ranked among the "top ten" warmest years in recorded history.
The service's report, titled "Key Trends in Global Climate for 2024," describes the extraordinary conditions the world is facing.
A comprehensive study by the United Nations conducted in 2018 showed that keeping global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius could save coral reefs from extinction, mitigate significant ice loss in Antarctica, and prevent the death and suffering of many people worldwide.