In Short : The UN has issued a ‘Red Alert’ on climate change due to record-breaking heat. This urgent warning highlights the accelerating impacts of global warming, emphasizing the need for immediate and robust action to mitigate climate risks and protect the planet.
In Detail : The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a United Nations agency, has issued a stark warning about the worsening climate crisis, pointing to record-breaking increases in greenhouse gases, land and water temperatures, and the accelerated melting of glaciers and sea ice. In its latest State of the Global Climate report, the WMO highlighted a “high probability” that 2024 will set new records for global temperatures, following an already alarming trend in recent years.
The report underscores a critical concern: the world is dangerously close to surpassing the crucial climate goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, as outlined in the Paris Agreement. The period from March 2023 to February 2024 saw global temperatures average 1.56C (2.81F) above pre-industrial levels, surpassing the 1.5C threshold temporarily. The year 2023 averaged just below this limit at 1.48C (2.66F), but a record-breaking start to 2024 has pushed the 12-month average beyond the critical level.
Celeste Saulo, the secretary-general of the WMO, emphasized the urgency of the situation: “The WMO community is sounding the red alert to the world.” The warning comes as the report details the extensive impact of climate change, from heatwaves and floods to droughts, wildfires, and tropical cyclones, affecting lives and livelihoods on every continent.
The report also highlights the exacerbating effects of an El Niño event, a cyclical warming of the Pacific Ocean that typically results in higher global temperatures. In 2023, over 90 percent of ocean waters experienced heatwave conditions at least once, while glaciers monitored since 1950 lost the most ice on record, and Antarctic sea ice retreated to its lowest level ever.
Despite these dire findings, the WMO report offers a “glimmer of hope.” Renewable energy generation capacity has seen a nearly 50 percent increase from 2022, with wind, solar, and water power reaching 510 gigawatts. This growth in renewable energy is a positive step towards mitigating the impacts of climate change.
The report’s release coincides with a crucial climate summit in Copenhagen, where climate experts and government ministers will convene to push for greater climate action and increased national commitments to combat global warming.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed the gravity of the situation, stating, “Earth’s issuing a distress call. The latest State of the Global Climate report shows a planet on the brink. Fossil fuel pollution is sending climate chaos off the charts.”
As the world grapples with these alarming trends, the call is urgent.
