Unprecedented Heat and Accelerating Climate Change
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned that the planet is overheating rapidly due to accelerating climate change. This announcement coincides with the start of the COP29 UN Climate Summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Monday.
The WMO’s 2024 Global State of the Climate report reveals that the last decade was the warmest on record. This aligns with long-standing scientific forecasts predicting a steady rise in global temperatures.
“This is not unexpected,” stated WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo. “Scientists have been sounding alarms for over 30 years. The real surprise is the slow pace of the global response.”
The report uses data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), which also confirms that 2024 is on track to be the hottest year ever recorded.
Extreme Weather Events on the Rise
Global temperatures have risen 1.3°C above pre-industrial levels, according to the WMO. This increase has triggered extreme weather events, including record-high sea surface temperatures, accelerated ice melt, severe droughts, and intense flooding. Spain recently faced catastrophic floods, exemplifying the growing impact of climate change.
“The intensity of these extreme weather events poses a serious challenge,” explained Saulo. “People are not prepared for the scale of these events. We urgently need better strategies to manage these growing crises.”
Although some European regions have reduced greenhouse gas emissions, global emissions remain high. Emissions continue to rise in many regions, including Asia. Regardless of whether emissions come from Beijing, Baku, or Berlin, the result is the same: more heat-trapping gases accumulate in the atmosphere, driving global temperatures higher.
COP29 Calls for Urgent Global Action
Delegates at COP29 are focusing on strategies to limit greenhouse gas emissions and curb rising global temperatures. However, the urgency of the situation is clear as climate impacts become more severe and widespread.
Europe’s October 2024 average temperature hit 10.83°C, 1.23°C above the 1991–2020 average. This made October the fifth warmest month on record for Europe and the second warmest globally. The upward trend underscores the growing need for decisive action.
The WMO’s latest report, along with discussions at COP29, stresses the urgent need for immediate, decisive action. World leaders must act now to slow global warming and reduce the devastating effects of climate change.