2024 by the numbers: From victims of war to a warming planet

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on POLITICO or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: 2024 was defined by persistent wars, rising far-right influence in elections, and escalating climate challenges
• Key conflicts included the Israel-Hamas war, Ukraine's struggles against Russia, and instability in Syria
• Meanwhile, the hottest year on record highlighted humanity's failure to curb global warming

🔭 The context: The Israel-Hamas conflict caused widespread destruction, with 60% of Gaza buildings damaged and 1.9 million displaced
• Far-right political momentum surged globally, particularly in Europe. Climate summits, like COP29, revealed insufficient action to meet Paris Agreement goals

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Escalating conflicts and political instability hinder international cooperation on climate change
• Warming beyond 1.5°C risks catastrophic impacts, including irreversible damage to polar ice caps
Global emissions remain unchecked, amplifying environmental crises

⏭️ What's next: Donald Trump's return to the presidency in January 2025 could roll back U.S. climate policies and reshape global dynamics
• Europe faces growing economic and political challenges, including managing migration and trade tensions
Continued failure to address warming may push the planet closer to irreversible climate tipping points

💬 One quote: “Current plans and policies will lead to 2.6 to 3.1 degrees Celsius of global warming this century.” — Latest U.N. assessment

📈 One stat: 2024 is projected to be the first year exceeding 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels

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