2024 is on track to become the hottest year on record, warns the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, driven by rising global temperatures. Scientists urge stronger climate action at COP29 as extreme weather devastates regions worldwide.

The EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) announced that 2024 is almost certain to become the hottest year on record, surpassing 2023. This finding comes just before the COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan, where countries will discuss increased funding for climate action, though Trump’s recent U.S. election win has lowered expectations for ambitious outcomes.

C3S reported that January through October had such high temperatures that only a major cooling trend could prevent 2024 from setting a new record. C3S Director Carlo Buontempo attributed this to global climate change, with warming seen in all regions.

Scientists expect 2024 to mark the first year with temperatures over 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, raising concerns about the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C limit. Climate scientist Sonia Seneviratne urged stronger measures at COP29, warning that action remains too slow.

Rising temperatures have intensified extreme weather: recent floods killed hundreds in Spain, wildfires burned through Peru, and flooding in Bangladesh destroyed over a million tons of rice. In the U.S., Hurricane Milton was also worsened by climate change. C3S data, aligned with global records back to 1850, highlights the urgent need for decisive climate action.

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