Summer 2024 has officially sweltered its way to becoming the hottest on record, according to the European climate service Copernicus. This milestone adds to the mounting evidence that 2024 is on track to be the warmest year ever measured by humanity.
While a temporary La Niña event a cooling phenomenon affecting parts of the central Pacific is forecast for the last four months of the year, it’s unlikely to offset the unprecedented heat experienced throughout the year. Despite this cooling effect, the trend of extreme warmth is expected to continue, making it increasingly probable that 2024 will surpass all previous annual temperature records.
Carlo Buontempo, a climate scientist at Copernicus, noted that while part of the record heat from last year was driven by the El Niño event, the main force behind the prolonged warming is human-caused climate change. The burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas continues to drive temperatures upward, further intensifying global climate impacts.
This stark data underscores the urgency for climate action as human-driven climate change shows no signs of slowing down, with long-term consequences for ecosystems, communities, and economies worldwide.
Reference: https://www.preventionweb.net/news/hottest-summer-record-could-lead-warmest-year-ever-measured