After a 2023 already marked by heat records, 2024 confirms the worrying trends of climate change. Here are the five most striking figures illustrating the state of the climate this year.
1. A year among the hottest ever recorded
According to Copernicus and the World Meteorological Organization, 2024 will be the hottest year on record since weather observations began, even surpassing 2023. In 175 years, such a series of extreme temperatures has never been observed.
2. +1.6 °C of warming
Climate warming has now exceeded the limits set by the Paris Agreement, which aimed to keep temperature increases to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels. In 2024, this gap reaches approximately +1.65 °C.
3. A decade of records
The last ten years are the hottest ever recorded on Earth. The last two, 2023 and 2024, present the most extreme temperatures, establishing a new alarming norm for terrestrial and marine climates.
4. 21.17 °C: overheated oceans
In March and April 2024, the average surface temperature of the oceans reached 21.17 °C, breaking the previous record of 21.09 °C in 2023. These levels far exceed the average of 20.52 °C observed in recent decades.
5. +51% of carbon dioxide
Since 1750, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased by 51%, fueling global warming. This trend continues in 2024, amplifying the impacts on the climate.
An unprecedented alert
These figures show an acceleration of climate change, affecting marine and terrestrial ecosystems as well as the entire atmosphere. They highlight the urgency of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to limit catastrophic impacts on the planet and its inhabitants.