A European climate monitor has warned that extreme weather will intensify unless countries take drastic measures to reduce emissions, following a summer of unprecedented heat. According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), the Northern Hemisphere recorded its hottest summer in history, pushing 2024 toward becoming the hottest year ever.
The heatwaves experienced across the globe were intensified by human-driven climate change, with Samantha Burgess, deputy director of C3S, noting that June and August 2024 set new records for the hottest months. These events, along with the hottest day on record, have heightened the likelihood of 2024 being the warmest year to date.
While the cyclical El Niño weather pattern contributed to these high temperatures, its impact wasn’t as strong as in previous occurrences. Some regions, including Alaska, parts of South America, and the Sahel, experienced cooler-than-average conditions, but these exceptions do not alter the global warming trend.
**The Intensifying Impact of Climate Change**
This summer saw climate-related disasters around the world. In Sudan, heavy rains caused widespread flooding, affecting over 300,000 people, while Typhoon Gaemi, intensified by climate change, ravaged the Philippines, Taiwan, and China, leaving over 100 dead.
Scientists have long warned that human-caused greenhouse gas emissions are driving more frequent and severe climate events like droughts, fires, and floods. Burgess emphasized that such extreme weather events will only worsen without immediate and significant emissions reductions.
**Climate Targets Missed**
Despite global agreements such as the 2015 Paris climate accord, which aims to limit temperature rises to 1.5°C (2.7°F) above pre-industrial levels, the world is not on track to meet these goals. In June and August, global temperatures surpassed this critical 1.5°C threshold, though scientists warn it must be breached for decades to confirm it as a permanent shift.
Average global warming currently stands at 1.2°C, but C3S reports that the 1.5°C limit has been exceeded during 13 of the past 14 months, underscoring the urgent need for action.
As governments struggle to meet emissions targets, the consequences of a rapidly warming planet are becoming increasingly clear. Only immediate action can prevent the situation from worsening, with devastating impacts on both people and ecosystems.