China Records Hottest Year in 2024 Amid Global Climate Crisis

In 2024, China set a record for its highest average national temperature at 10.92°C, amid increasing global temperatures driven by climate change. Various regions in China faced severe flooding, with significant casualties and economic impacts. The United Nations signaled that 2024 could be the warmest year recorded worldwide, highlighting a worrying trend of rising temperatures and extreme weather events resulting from climate change.

In 2024, China experienced its warmest year on record, according to the China Meteorological Administration. The national average temperature reached 10.92 degrees Celsius (51.66 degrees Fahrenheit), exceeding the previous average by 1.03 degrees. This trend underscores the growing impact of climate change as extreme weather events proliferate globally. China’s warmest months, including the hottest July, August, and autumn on record, reflect an alarming increase in temperatures that have been consistently escalating over the past few years.

As the foremost emitter of greenhouse gases, China has vowed to reach peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2060. Nevertheless, the immediate effects of climate change are evident, as the country faced significant flooding events last year, which resulted in numerous fatalities and extensive evacuations. Noteworthy incidents include the tragic collapse of a highway in May, which claimed the lives of 48 individuals.

Globally, 2024 has been designated as potentially the hottest year recorded, with the United Nations emphasizing the alarming trend of rising temperatures and its catastrophic consequences. Warmer temperatures correlate with increased water vapor retention in the atmosphere, leading to intense rainfall and storms. This dynamic has contributed to property damage, agricultural losses, and numerous fatalities across various regions, including not just China, but also countries like Spain, Kenya, and the Philippines.

Insurance assessments indicate that natural disasters in 2024 resulted in economic losses amounting to $310 billion worldwide. According to the World Meteorological Organization, surface air temperatures from January to September were 1.54 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, reflecting the ongoing challenges in meeting climate targets set by the 2015 Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global warming to below two degrees Celsius and strives for a target of 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The increasing global temperatures and extreme weather patterns highlight the urgent need for climate action. The warming climate is exacerbated by human activities, particularly fossil fuel combustion, which significantly enhances greenhouse gas emissions. As the world’s largest emitter, China’s policy decisions and their outcomes are pivotal for international climate efforts. The Paris Climate Accords represent a global commitment to mitigating climate change by limiting temperature increases, thereby necessitating significant emissions reductions and sustainable practices worldwide, especially from major economies like China.

The record-breaking temperatures in 2024 illustrate the critical state of climate change and its profound effects in China and globally. The reliance on fossil fuels and the challenges in reducing greenhouse gas emissions remain contentious issues as nations strive toward climate goals. The ongoing hardships caused by extreme weather events are a clarion call for decisive action to address climate change and its multifaceted repercussions. The financial toll of natural disasters further stresses the necessity for sustainable practices and international cooperation to combat the escalating climate crisis.

Original Source: www.rfi.fr