The year 2024 has been recorded as the first year that the global average temperature exceeds 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to the transfer period. According to the 'Global Climate Status Report' released by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the rate of increase in Earth's temperature has reached concerning levels, and the impact of climate change is becoming more pronounced.
On the 19th, the WMO noted that the global average temperature last year rose by 1.55 degrees compared to the transfer period. In 2023, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere reached 420.0 ppm, a 151% increase from the transfer period (1750). The concentrations of methane and nitrous oxide also reached their highest levels in 800,000 years, reaffirming that greenhouse gas emissions are the primary cause of climate change.
The last decade (2015-2024) has been recorded as the hottest period in history, with 2024 marking the peak. Due to the influence of El Niño, temperatures have soared since the beginning of the year, and the monthly average temperature from June to December has surpassed all previous records. El Niño is a phenomenon where the seawater in the eastern Pacific, including the Pacific coast of South America, becomes warm. Scientists warn that if this temperature increase continues, extreme climate change will accelerate.
Ocean warming is also at a serious level. Last year, the heat content of the oceans was the highest in the 65 years of observation history, and the rate of ocean warming in the last 20 years (2005-2024) has been more than twice as fast as the rate from 1960 to 2005. Even under low carbon emission scenarios, ocean warming is expected to continue throughout the 21st century. This has caused ocean acidification, affecting habitats, biodiversity, and ecosystems.
The rate of sea level rise is also increasing sharply. Last year recorded the highest global average sea level since satellite observations began in 1993. Between 2015 and 2024, the average annual rate of sea level rise was 4.7 mm, which is more than twice the annual average rate of 2.1 mm from 1993 to 2002. As a result, the risk of flooding in coastal areas is increasing, and island nations and low-lying countries are experiencing significant damage.
Additionally, 2022-2024 was one of the periods with the most significant glacier reduction, with seven of the most severe cases since 1950 occurring after 2016. The area of Arctic sea ice was at its lowest in the past 18 years, and the area of Antarctic sea ice also recorded an all-time low.
These changes are exacerbating extreme weather events, and in fact, in 2024, disasters such as heatwaves, hurricanes, and droughts surged, resulting in massive damage globally. In particular, the highest number of people have had to relocate due to climate disasters since 2008, and 18 countries have experienced a deepening food crisis.
António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, emphasized that "the international community must pursue stronger climate policies to keep global temperatures below 1.5 degrees." Celeste Saulo, the Secretary-General of the WMO, stated, "We need to further enhance early warning systems and climate services to prepare for extreme weather."