Record 2024 temperatures speed up ice loss, causing sea levels to rise

Photo : Reuters

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has said that 2024 was the hottest year ever recorded. The average global temperature was 1.55 degrees Celsius (2.79°F) higher than pre-industrial times. This is 0.1°C more than the record set in 2023. The WMO shared this information in its yearly climate report, showing how fast the planet is heating.

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In 2015, under the Paris Agreement, countries promised to keep global warming below 2°C, with a goal of staying under 1.5°C. However, the WMO’s new data shows that the world is getting very close to this limit. Estimates say the long-term average rise is now between 1.34°C and 1.41°C. This means the world is near the danger level but has not yet officially crossed it.

WMO scientist John Kennedy explained that one year of being over 1.5°C does not mean the Paris Agreement has been broken. However, he warned that the data is not exact, so it is possible the limit has already been crossed.

The report said that besides high greenhouse gas levels, other things also made 2024 hotter. These include changes in the sun’s cycle, a large volcanic eruption, and fewer cooling aerosols, which usually reflect sunlight away from the Earth.

Extreme weather events were worse in 2024. Some places were slightly cooler, but most faced severe weather. Long droughts caused food shortages in many countries. Floods and wildfires forced about 800,000 people to leave their homes—the highest number since 2008.

The oceans also became warmer than ever. The heat made the water absorb more carbon dioxide (CO2), which made the oceans more acidic. This harms sea life, such as coral reefs and fish, and puts millions of people who rely on the sea at risk.

Glaciers and sea ice melted faster in 2024, making sea levels rise. WMO data showed that from 2015 to 2024, sea levels rose by 4.7 millimeters each year. This is more than double the 2.1mm yearly rise recorded between 1993 and 2002.

Kennedy warned that melting ice in the Arctic and Antarctic could disrupt ocean currents. This could change weather patterns across the world. "What happens in the poles doesn’t stay in the poles," he said, meaning ice loss can affect global weather.

The WMO’s report shows that stronger global action is needed to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Scientists warn that if emissions are not reduced, the planet could cross dangerous warming limits, leading to worse weather disasters and rising sea levels.