In 2024, global temperatures surpassed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels for the first time, bringing the world closer to exceeding the target set in the 2015 Paris climate agreement, scientists confirmed on Friday.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) verified the 1.5°C breach, based on data from scientists in the U.S., U.K., Japan, and the EU. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres responded to the alarming news, stating, “Global heating is a cold, hard fact.” However, he added, “There’s still time to avoid the worst of climate catastrophe. But leaders must act – now.”
This grim reality comes as wildfires, fueled by fierce winds, ravage Los Angeles, leaving 10 dead and nearly 10,000 structures destroyed. Wildfires, along with other disasters, are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change.
The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) reported that the Earth’s temperature has reached levels never before experienced by modern humans, largely driven by greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels. In 2024, the planet’s average temperature was 1.6°C higher than during the pre-industrial period (1850-1900). The WMO also confirmed that the last decade has recorded the ten hottest years in history.
Climate change is not only worsening wildfires but also intensifying storms and torrential rainfall, as a hotter atmosphere holds more water. In 2024, atmospheric water vapor reached an all-time high, and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) declared it the third-wettest year on record.
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Countries such as Bolivia and Venezuela experienced destructive fires, while Nepal, Sudan, and Spain suffered severe floods, and heat waves in Mexico and Saudi Arabia led to thousands of deaths. Despite these widespread impacts, political will to address climate change is diminishing in some nations.
Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, governments pledged to prevent the global temperature rise from exceeding 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. However, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has dismissed climate change as a hoax and reversed his country’s participation in the Paris Agreement during his first term. Additionally, political shifts in Europe have led some EU governments to prioritize industrial competitiveness over climate policies.
Matthew Jones, a climate scientist at the University of East Anglia, warned that climate-related disasters will become more common if efforts to address the root causes of climate change remain slow. EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra emphasized the urgent need for climate action, saying the 1.5°C breach should serve as a wake-up call for political leaders to take immediate action.
The UK’s Met Office also confirmed the likelihood of 2024 exceeding the 1.5°C threshold, estimating an average temperature of 1.53°C for the year. While it did not officially breach the target, experts warned that rising greenhouse gas emissions are pushing the world closer to exceeding the Paris goal.
However, scientists believe rapid emissions reductions could still avert even more catastrophic temperature rises. C3S reported a new high of 422 parts per million of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in 2024.
Zeke Hausfather, a research scientist at Berkeley Earth, predicted that 2025 could be one of the hottest years on record, though it is unlikely to surpass 2024. He noted that early 2024 temperatures were influenced by the El Niño weather pattern, which is now transitioning to the cooler La Niña phase. Nevertheless, 2025 is expected to remain among the top three hottest years.
