The world has just endured its “decade of deadly heat”, with the past decade being the hottest on record, according to the UN. António Guterres, the UN Secretary General, stated that the last 10 years have seen the top 10 hottest years in recorded history, including 2024.
Climate change is driving extreme weather events and increasing greenhouse gas levels, locking in more heat for the future. The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has warned that every degree of warming matters, leading to increased climate extremes.
The past year was set to be the warmest on record, with record-breaking rainfall, flooding, and devastating wildfires. Tropical cyclones caused significant human and economic losses, while intense heat scorched dozens of countries, with temperatures topping 50C on several occasions.
A new report from World Weather Attribution found that climate change intensified 26 out of 29 extreme weather events in 2024, killing at least 3,700 people and displacing millions. The WMO is set to publish official temperature figures for 2024 in January.
Guterres emphasized the need for countries to work together to tackle severe heat risks, stating that “we have no time to lose” and must “exit this road to ruin”. He called for a drastic reduction in emissions and support for a renewable future by 2025.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/30/world-endures-decade-of-deadly-heat-as-2024-caps-hottest-years-on-record-un-antonio-guterres