2024 was the hottest year on record since temperature monitoring began, surpassing previous records. The extreme heat caused glaciers in the Arctic, Antarctic, and other regions to melt rapidly, leading to a rise in sea levels.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported on Wednesday that the global average temperature in 2024 increased by 1.55°C, which is 0.1°C higher than in 2023. As a result, sea levels also rose, with an average increase of 4.7 millimeters in 2024.
The primary cause of global warming is the continuous rise in greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, due to excessive fossil fuel burning, deforestation, unplanned industrialization, and urbanization.
In 2015, during the UN Climate Summit in Paris, world leaders agreed to prevent global temperatures from rising above 1.5°C. However, last year’s temperature data is alarming. Despite this, WMO’s chief scientist John Kennedy emphasized that the Paris Agreement has not failed yet. He believes that with strong commitment, the crisis can still be addressed.
The rising temperatures in 2024 also led to an increase in natural disasters such as storms, heavy rainfall, droughts, and prolonged heatwaves. According to the UN, at least 800,000 people were displaced last year due to climate-related disasters, marking the highest number since 2008.