In 2024, coastal water temperatures in China set a new record

China is facing devastating temperature rise in the coastal waters.

In 2024, the average temperature of China’s coastal waters hit a new peak of 21.50°C (70.7°F), marking the second consecutive year of rising temperatures. This occurred during what was recorded as the hottest year globally since tracking began.

China, recognized for its high vulnerability to climate change, is under increasing pressure to respond to rapidly evolving weather patterns and the accelerating rise in sea levels, which is happening faster than the global average. Throughout the past year, the country faced a series of extreme weather events, including the devastating Super Typhoon Yagi, which impacted southern Hainan in September, and the strongest storm to affect Shanghai since 1949.

The National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center reported that the average sea surface temperature increased by 0.15°C compared to 2023, and by 1.16°C over the "normal" reference period from 1981 to 2010. In a statement issued on its WeChat account on January 10, the center warned that the warming of oceans could lead to more frequent and severe weather events, posing growing risks to communities and industries.

The center also emphasized that ocean warming is responsible for roughly one-third of the global rise in sea levels, threatening coastal and low-lying regions with greater risks, including land erosion. Looking to the future, the center stated it would closely monitor global sea temperatures in 2025. Additionally, scientists highlighted that global temperatures in 2024 exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels for the first time, pushing the world closer to breaching the targets set by the 2015 Paris Agreement.

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