World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has released its State of the Climate 2024 report at the COP29. This year’s report highlights a series of alarming climate milestones, reaffirming the need for decisive global action, an urgent conversation which has echoed over the years.
The report shows that from January to September 2024, global temperatures averaged 1.54°C above pre-industrial levels, making this year likely the warmest on record.
This surge is partly due to a strong El Niño effect, exacerbating long-term temperature increases driven by record-high levels of greenhouse gases. Carbon dioxide levels have reached 420 ppm, up by over 50% since the industrial era began, alongside similarly alarming rises in methane and nitrous oxide concentrations.
Alongside rising temperatures, the WMO report details the devastating impact of these changes. Polar regions have experienced significant ice loss, with Antarctic Sea ice extent at near-record lows.
Global sea levels, meanwhile, are rising faster than ever, doubling from 2.13 mm per year in the 1990s to 4.77 mm per year between 2014 and 2023. This rapid increase, fueled by ocean warming and melting glaciers, threatens coastal communities worldwide.
The report also recounts this year’s unprecedented weather extremes, from record-breaking floods in East Africa, which displaced over half a million people, to intense heatwaves affecting populations across Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
Notably, droughts have worsened food insecurity, especially in regions already grappling with high levels of undernourishment, such as East and West Africa. As a result, millions now face acute food shortages, a crisis amplified by extreme weather that has disrupted agriculture across continents.
As the WMO urges countries to limit warming below 2°C, its message is clear: every fraction of a degree counts. The report advocates for bolstered climate services, including the Early Warning for All initiative, which aims to ensure that every person on Earth is protected from hazardous climate events. Yet, as the report highlights, these efforts are still lacking, especially in low-income and vulnerable regions.
The State of the Climate 2024 is a wake up call that our time to act is slipping away. COP29’s agenda must, therefore, not only reflect the urgency of these findings but also inspire meaningful action to limit warming, support adaptation, and, ultimately, avert a global catastrophe.
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