The year 2024 is on track to be the warmest on record, with an average temperature surpassing 1.5 degrees Celsius, according to the European climate agency Copernicus. November 2024 marked the second-warmest month, with an average surface air temperature of 14.10 degrees Celsius, 0.73 degrees Celsius above the 1991–2020 average for the month. This milestone also saw temperatures soar 1.62 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, further highlighting the ongoing trend of global warming.
In India, November 2024 was the second warmest since 1901, with the average maximum temperature reaching 29.37 degrees Celsius, 0.62 degrees above normal. The global average temperature anomaly for the year so far stands at 0.72 degrees Celsius above the 1991-2020 average, making it the warmest on record for this period. The agency predicts that 2024 will likely be the hottest year on record, exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Sea surface temperatures for November 2024 were also the second-highest on record, at 20.58 degrees Celsius. Despite some regions moving towards neutral or La Nina conditions, sea surface temperatures remained high across many ocean areas. Samantha Burgess, Deputy Director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, emphasized the urgent need for ambitious climate action in light of these alarming trends.
The Paris Agreement, established in 2015, aims to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels to mitigate the impacts of climate change. The increasing concentration of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, has already led to a 1.3 degrees Celsius increase in Earth’s global surface temperature compared to the 1850-1900 average. This warming trend has been linked to severe droughts, wildfires, and floods worldwide.
As we face the reality of record-breaking temperatures and escalating climate crises, it is crucial for governments, industries, and individuals to prioritize climate action and work towards a sustainable future. The data from Copernicus serves as a stark reminder of the pressing need to address climate change and its far-reaching consequences.
