As we step into 2025, the climate data from 2024 remind us of the accelerating impacts of global warming. For the first time, the average global temperature exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels—a critical threshold outlined in the Paris Agreement to mitigate the risks of climate change. With a global average temperature of 15.10°C, 2024 surpassed the previous record set in 2023 by 0.12°C, marking a 1.60°C rise above pre-industrial levels. This breach is a clear signal of the urgent need for action as the impacts of human-induced climate change become increasingly evident.
The consequences of this warming were felt worldwide, with Europe experiencing its hottest year on record and regions like northern Canada and the tropics showing significant temperature anomalies. Seasonal extremes were equally alarming, with record-breaking temperatures during winter, spring, and summer fueling a cascade of climate-related disasters. Oceans, which absorb much of the planet’s excess heat, also reached unprecedented temperatures, triggering a global coral bleaching event and widespread marine heatwaves. Meanwhile, atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations hit record highs, with carbon dioxide levels reaching 422.1 ppm and methane levels at 1897 ppb—figures not seen in millions of years.
The record-breaking warmth of 2024 is a sobering call to action. From devastating heatwaves and wildfires to catastrophic flooding and droughts, the impacts of climate change are immediate realities. To mitigate these effects, the global community must accelerate the transition to renewable energy, invest in climate adaptation, and strengthen international cooperation to meet and exceed the goals of the Paris Agreement. The choices we make today will shape the future of our planet, and 2024 should serve as a turning point—a year that compels us to move from promises to tangible progress in addressing the climate crisis.
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Bapon (SHM) Fakhruddin, PhD 