The World Meteorological Organization has raised concerns about the alarming rate of global warming, highlighting significant increases in greenhouse gases, land and water temperatures, and the melting of glaciers and sea ice. The agency warns that current global efforts to combat climate change are falling short.
The report indicates a high probability that 2024 will set another record for being a hot year. The agency emphasizes the urgent need to limit planetary warming to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius from pre-industrial levels, a goal that is increasingly at risk.
Recent data shows that the 12-month period from March 2023 to February 2024 exceeded the 1.5-degree limit, averaging 1.56 degrees Celsius higher. The year 2023 was just below the threshold at 1.48 degrees Celsius, but a record hot start to 2024 pushed temperatures beyond that level.
The report highlights distressing trends, including widespread ocean heatwaves, record ice loss from glaciers, and the lowest levels of Antarctic sea ice ever recorded. Experts warn that the planet is in a critical phase of warming and ice loss, with significant implications for biodiversity and future generations.
Despite the grim findings, there is a glimmer of hope in the increased capacity for renewable energy generation, with wind, solar, and waterpower capacity rising nearly 50% in 2022 to a total of 510 gigawatts.
The report coincides with a gathering of climate experts and government officials in Copenhagen to push for stronger climate action and increased commitments to combat global warming. However, experts express frustration at the lack of meaningful progress in addressing the climate crisis, citing political grandstanding and short-term policy outcomes as barriers to effective climate action.
The World Meteorological Organization stresses the urgent need for decisive action to mitigate the impacts of climate change, as extreme weather events continue to affect lives and livelihoods across the globe.
