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Scientists comment on Copernicus data that says 2024 is the warmest year on record and the first year to exceed 1.5 degrees.
Dr Friederike Otto, Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, said:
“This record needs to be a reality check. The climate is heating to levels we’ve spent years trying to avoid because countries are still burning huge amounts of oil, gas and coal.
“A year of extreme weather showed just how dangerous life is at 1.5°C. The Valencia floods, US hurricanes, Philippines typhoons and Amazon drought are just four disasters last year that were worsened by climate change. There are many, many more.
“The world doesn’t need to come up with a magical solution to stop things from getting worse in 2025. We know exactly what we need to do to transition away from fossil fuels, halt deforestation and make societies more resilient to the changes in the climate we see in so clearly in this report.”
Prof Joeri Rogelj, Director of Research at the Grantham Institute – Climate Change and Environment, Imperial College London, said:
“A single year with temperatures 1.5°C above preindustrial levels does not mean we’ve reached 1.5°C of global warming. However, it does mean we’re getting dangerously close.
“The Paris Agreement sets limits to global warming not out of convenience but out of the necessity to limit harm to and suffering of people. Even if we surpass 1.5°C in the long term, these reasons don’t change.
“Every fraction of a degree—whether 1.4, 1.5, or 1.6°C—brings more harm to people and ecosystems, underscoring the continued need for ambitious emissions cuts.
“While the hottest year on record is alarming, the case for action makes more sense than ever: the cost of solar and wind energy is falling rapidly and is now cheaper than fossil fuels in many countries. Governments can build healthy economies with stronger, more decisive action to accelerate the transition to clean energy.”
Dr Paulo Ceppi, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science at the Department of Physics, Imperial College London, said:
“It’s unlikely 2025 will be as hot as 2024, but people shouldn’t think that’s climate change hitting pause or plateauing.
“There are ups and downs in global temperatures due to natural processes, like El Niño, and a small dip doesn’t change the clear upward trajectory we’re on.
“The recent heat was exacerbated by a decrease in the amount of cloud and sea ice, causing Earth to absorb more sunlight. This confirms climate model predictions of melting sea ice and shrinking cloud cover as the world warms.
“Countries have the power to bring global warming to a halt by reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero. This must happen as quickly as possible to give us some hope of preventing further global climate change catastrophes.”
Declared interests
None declared