UN Secretary-General, António Guterres has said that the Paris Agreement goals are still achievable and called on world leaders to step up their efforts in response to the mounting crisis.
Guterres was reacting to the latest State of the Global Climate report which confirmed 2024 as the hottest year since records began 175 years ago, with a global mean temperature of 1.55°C above pre-industrial levels – surpassing the critical warming threshold of 1.5°C for the first time.
The latest report explains that the record-breaking global temperatures in 2023 and 2024 were primarily driven by increasing greenhouse gas emissions, amplified by the transition from La Niña to El Niño. Other factors that might have contributed include solar cycle variation, volcanic activity and changes in ocean circulation.
While a single year above 1.5°C doesn’t break the Paris Agreement’s long-term goals (a long-term average below 1.5°C), it is a stark warning of the urgent need for emissions reduction. Multiple climate indicators also set new records. Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations are at their highest in 800,000 years, and the oceans continue to warm at unprecedented rates.
The report show that tropical cyclones, floods, droughts, and other hazards last year led to the highest number of new displacements recorded in 16 years, contributing to worsening food crises, and fuelling massive economic losses.
In his reaction, Guterres said “Our planet is issuing more distress signals – but this report shows that limiting long-term global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius is still possible,”.
He therefore urged leaders to step up to make it happen by seizing the benefits of cheap, clean renewables for their people and economies – with new national climate plans due this year.
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo called the report findings a “wake-up call” to the increasing level of deadly risk facing human life, economies and the planet.
“WMO and the global community are intensifying efforts to strengthen early warning systems and climate services to help decision-makers and society at large be more resilient to extreme weather and climate. We are making progress but need to go further and need to go faster”, she said.
Story was adapted from UN News.
