Global Mean Temperature in January Hits Record High
- 08 Feb 2024
January 2024 marked the warmest month globally on record, surpassing the 1.5-degree Celsius benchmark, signaling ongoing climate concerns, as reported by the European climate agency on 8th February, 2024.
Key Points
- Unprecedented Warmth Continues: January 2024 recorded the highest global mean temperature, continuing a trend of warmth observed since June the previous year. However, this doesn't signify a permanent breach of the 1.5-degree Celsius limit outlined in the Paris agreement.
- Factors Driving Warming: Scientists attribute the exceptional warmth to a combination of El Niño effects and human-induced climate change, underscoring the urgency for emissions reduction.
- Temperature Anomalies: The global average temperature for January was 1.66 degrees Celsius above the reference period of 1850-1900, with January 2024 being 0.12 degrees Celsius warmer than the previous record in 2020.
- Paris Agreement Targets: The Paris agreement aims to limit global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius, preferably 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels. However, reports suggest significant deviations from these goals, necessitating drastic emissions reductions.
- Call for Action: The warming trend observed in 2023, nearing the 1.5-degree Celsius threshold, underscores the urgency for action.
- Future Projections: Concerns persist for 2024, as the World Meteorological Organization anticipates potentially exacerbated warming, particularly following the peak of El Niño, underscoring the need for proactive climate measures.
