New global heat record

Soaring temperatures to set new global heat record, surpassing last year’s mark

Full-year temperatures are expected to rise 1.5 C above pre-industrial levels for the first time ever.

By Zack Colman

Global temperatures are on target to hit a new record high in 2024, surpassing the previous peak set just last year, the latest evidence that nations are failing to quickly arrest greenhouse gases driving climate change, the World Meteorological Organization and the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service said Thursday.

The forecast comes as diplomats from nations around the world head to COP29 climate talks that begin Nov. 11 in Baku, Azerbaijan. They also highlights the uphill battle governments face to achieve goals of preventing 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming since the mid-19th century — a job that likely became more difficult with President-elect Donald Trump’s win Tuesday.

Copernicus Deputy Director Samantha Burgess said in a statement that it was “virtually certain” this year would set the record. Copernicus said 2024 would likely be the first year to eclipse 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming for an entire calendar year.

The WMO analyzed six datasets from January through September. Trends were significant enough to determine 2024 would eclipse last year’s record of 1.45 degrees C warming above pre-industrial levels even with two months of observations remaining. The WMO will provide a more detailed update later this month.

While one year crossing that threshold is not as drastic as a longer climatological period measured over 30 years, scientists have warned it is a harbinger of what is to come if nations do not rapidly curtail emissions that come primarily from burning fossil fuels.

“Humanity’s torching the planet and paying the price,” United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement.