2024 the first year to exceed 1.5°C and hottest on record

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

🗞️ Driving the news: The world experienced its hottest year on record in 2024, with global temperatures breaching the 1.5°C warming threshold set by the Paris Agreement
• Scientists from the EU’s Copernicus Climate Service and the UK Met Office confirmed annual averages of 1.6°C and 1.53°C above pre-industrial levels, respectively

🔭 The context: This temperature spike coincided with the El Niño phenomenon and a decline in atmospheric cooling pollutants like sulfur aerosols
• Scientists are debating whether this is a temporary anomaly or the beginning of a long-term acceleration in global warming

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Surpassing 1.5°C highlights the urgent need for stronger climate action to avoid catastrophic impacts such as extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and ecosystem loss
• This breach challenges efforts to meet the Paris Agreement’s long-term goals

⏭️ What's next: The rapid pace of warming may force governments and organizations to reassess their strategies for climate mitigation
• Scientists continue to investigate the reasons behind this acceleration, with a focus on aerosols, ocean heat release, and cloud cover

💬 One quote: “The 2023 extra heat may be here to stay...we may thus be closer to the temperature targets defined in the Paris Agreement than was imagined,” – Researchers from the Alfred Wegener Institute

📈 One stat: The global temperature in 2024 was 1.6°C above the pre-industrial average, surpassing 2023's record of 1.48°C

Click for more news covering the latest on climate change