2024 Marks China’s Record Hottest Year Amidst Global Climate Crisis
In 2024, China recorded its highest annual temperature of 10.92°C, surpassing previous records, amidst rising global temperatures linked to climate change. The year witnessed devastating natural disasters, including unprecedented floods and heatwaves, resulting in significant loss of life and property. The impacts of climate change are now widely recognized, necessitating urgent international efforts for mitigation.
According to the China Meteorological Administration, 2024 has marked the hottest year on record for China, with an average national temperature of 10.92 degrees Celsius (51.66 degrees Fahrenheit), surpassing past averages by 1.03 degrees. This alarming trend aligns with the global phenomenon of increasing extreme weather events attributed to climate change. Notably, the recent years have recorded the highest temperatures in China since 1961, indicating a disturbing pattern of warming.
In addition to the record temperatures, China experienced significant impacts, such as the country’s hottest month in July, along with record-breaking temperatures throughout August and autumn. The United Nations has indicated that worldwide, 2024 is also set to be the warmest year in history, reflecting a broader trend of climate change that has already shown severe repercussions, including intensified storms and downpours due to the increased capacity of warm air to retain moisture.
In 2024 alone, numerous natural disasters provoked catastrophic damage. China faced serious flooding, resulting in dozens of fatalities and the evacuation of thousands. In May, a highway collapsed in southern China after sustained rainstorms claimed 48 lives. The southern city of Guangzhou was subjected to an unusually extended summer, including 240 days with average temperatures exceeding 22 degrees Celsius (71.6 degrees Fahrenheit), breaking a record that stood for decades.
Internationally, severe climate-related disasters included devastating flooding in Spain and Kenya, violent storms in both the United States and the Philippines, and persistent droughts across South America. The financial toll from natural disasters worldwide reached an estimated $310 billion in losses, as reported by Swiss Re, a Zurich-based insurance company.
The 2015 Paris climate agreements aim to restrict global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, ideally to 1.5 degrees. However, the World Meteorological Organization disclosed troubling data, revealing that the mean surface air temperature from January to September 2024 was 1.54 degrees Celsius above the average measured pre-industrial levels, between 1850 and 1900.
These developments underscore the urgent need for substantial action against climate change as both national and global records continue to be broken, highlighting the effects of human-induced climate change on ecosystems and societies alike.
The record-breaking temperatures in China in 2024 reflect an unprecedented trend towards warming, signaling a broader climate emergency. This phenomenon is driven primarily by greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel consumption, both significant contributors to global warming. The implications of these rising temperatures extend beyond merely hot weather; they manifest in extreme weather events, affecting both human lives and the environment. Recognizing the need for climate action, the global community established accords such as the Paris Agreement aimed at mitigating these impacts. Recent warming patterns have been characterized by increasingly severe incidents of flooding, droughts, and heatwaves, underscoring the urgent calls for global cooperation and stringent policies to adhere to international climate goals. This backdrop illustrates the growing consensus that immediate and comprehensive action is imperative to counteract the effects of climate change.
In summary, 2024 has cemented itself as a historical benchmark for extreme temperatures in China and globally, with significant records being set in temperature averages, flood fatalities, and property damage. The pattern of rising temperatures and extreme weather correlates directly with human activity and underlines the commitment needed to adhere to international climate accords. As the world looks towards rectifying its course, the data released by authoritative meteorological organizations highlights the critical intersection of climate policy and human impact, calling for immediate action to prevent further adverse environmental outcomes.
Original Source: www.france24.com
