The United Nations Meteorological Organization will release an estimate of global temperatures for 2024 in January 2025, followed by a detailed report on the state of the global climate in March 2025.
UN chief Antonio Guterres also expressed deep concern over rising temperatures in his New Year message. “Today, I can officially announce that we have endured a decade of extreme heat.”
“The 10 warmest years on record occurred within the last 10 years, including 2024. It’s climate chaos — for real.”
Against this backdrop, the UN chief has called for an end to the path of destruction and warned that time for tougher action is running out.
Effects of a changing climate
In 2024, the United Nations Meteorological Agency released a series of reports highlighting the rapid pace of climate change and its impacts on sustainable development.
These studies collected data on record-breaking rainfall, devastating floods, extreme heat, temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius and forest fires.
According to the UN agency, due to climate change, 41 more hot days will be added in 2024, affecting human health and ecosystems.
Additionally, climate change has increased the intensity of 26 of the 29 extreme weather events, killing at least 3,700 people and displacing millions. Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the UN Climate Agenda, described 2024 as a wake-up call.
He said this year had seen record rainfall and flooding, causing widespread loss of life and suffering for communities on every continent.
The WMO chief warned that every fraction of temperature increase matters, which determines extreme weather, its impacts and risks.
Hope in crisis
Despite the bleak reality of 2024, a Memorandum of Understanding was also adopted for the future by 2024, which focuses on strengthening sustainable development.
During the COP29 climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, there was also discussion on ensuring financial support for poor countries affected by climate change so that they can cope with the effects of extreme weather events.
Developing countries contribute very little to carbon emissions, but are on the front lines of the climate crisis facing challenges.
After the UN chief issued a call for action to combat extreme heat, experts from 15 international organizations and 12 countries met at WMO headquarters in Geneva to develop a framework to combat extreme heat.