By : Lloyd Mahachi

The Copernicus Climate Change Service has made a startling announcement that 2024 is “effectively certain” to be the hottest year on record, surpassing the previous record held by 2023. This year’s average global temperatures have been unusually high, with an unprecedented spell of heat between January and November. The agency’s findings are based on billions of measurements from satellites, ships, aircraft, and weather stations around the world.

The implications of this record-breaking heat are far-reaching and alarming. According to the European Union agency, 2024 will not only be the hottest year but also the first to exceed the 1.5 degrees Celsius climate benchmark. This threshold is critical in preventing the Earth from dangerously overheating. The agency’s records date back to 1940, but other sources of climate data, such as ice cores, tree rings, and coral skeletons, allow scientists to expand their conclusions using evidence from much further in the past.

Scientists warn that the current period is likely the warmest the Earth has experienced in the last 125,000 years. The consequences of global warming are already being felt, with more intense heatwaves, droughts, and storms expected. Rising sea levels are also threatening coastal communities and ecosystems. The Copernicus Climate Change Service emphasizes the need for urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change.

The agency’s findings serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for climate action. Governments, businesses, and individuals must work together to reduce emissions and transition to renewable energy sources. The window for action is rapidly closing, and the consequences of inaction will be catastrophic. As the world grapples with the challenges of climate change, the Copernicus Climate Change Service’s findings serve as a call to action for us all.

Editor : Josephine Mahachi