The year 2024 is poised to be the warmest on record, concluding a decade of unprecedented heat driven by human activities, according to the WMO report.
Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, described this as “climate breakdown in real time,” urging immediate action.
WMO highlighted extreme weather events, including record-breaking rainfalls, catastrophic flooding, scorching heat waves, and devastating wildfires, exacerbated by climate change. The report revealed 41 additional days of dangerous heat in 2024, intensifying 26 of 29 studied weather events and causing significant human and ecological harm.
Despite the crises, 2024 saw the adoption of the Pact for the Future and progress in discussions on climate finance at COP29, emphasizing support for developing nations disproportionately affected by extreme weather. Efforts to address the growing threat of extreme heat were advanced by a global expert group.
Looking ahead, 2025 will focus on glacier preservation and monitoring greenhouse gas fluxes through WMO initiatives like the Global Greenhouse Gas Watch. Universal protection against environmental hazards is targeted by 2027 through the Early Warnings for All program.
As WMO approaches its 75th anniversary, Secretary-General Celeste Saulo emphasized the urgency of global responsibility to act for a safer planet.
Baburajan Kizhakedath