"Last Year Marked the First Time Global Average Temperature Exceeded 1.5 Degrees"

Record Number of Extreme Weather Damages
Impacts Expected to Last for Centuries
Need for Early Warning and Climate Services

Last year, the global average temperature was confirmed to have risen by 1.55 degrees compared to the pre-industrial era.

According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)'s "State of the Global Climate 2024" report released on the 19th, the period from 2015 to 2024 was the warmest decade on record, and the global surface temperature reached a new high last year. Since 1993, WMO has been publishing annual reports analyzing key climate indicators based on data from the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS), UN partner agencies, and expert networks.

Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide levels were the highest in 800,000 years. Additionally, last year's ocean heat content was the highest in 65 years of observation records, and even under low-carbon emission scenario climate projections, ocean warming is expected to continue throughout the 21st century. Furthermore, the impact of ocean acidification on habitats, biodiversity, and ecosystems was clearly observed.

The Arctic sea ice extent recorded the lowest level in the past 18 years of records. The annual minimum and maximum Antarctic sea ice extents were the second lowest since observations began in 1979, with the minimum extent remaining below 2 million km² for three consecutive years.

Last year, extreme weather events caused the highest number of new displacements since 2008, destroying housing, major infrastructure, forests, farmland, and biodiversity. Food crises worsened in 18 countries, and there was significant damage caused by tropical cyclones and hurricanes.

Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), stated, "It is still possible to limit the long-term global temperature rise to below 1.5 degrees, and the world must strive through the national climate plans scheduled for this year."

Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the WMO, said, "To respond more resiliently to extreme weather and climate, WMO and the international community must continue efforts to strengthen early warning systems and climate services currently being promoted."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.