Earth’s warming exceeded 1.5C on an annual basis for the first time in 2024, according to two major climate science agencies. It’s the most potent evidence yet that countries are failing to meet a Paris Agreement goal of limiting global heating to that level as a decades-long average.
The amount of time left to avoid eclipsing the goal “is now wafer thin,” said Colin Morice, a UK Met Office scientist, in a statement.
The hottest day ever recorded happened on July 21, 2024—a record that held until July 22. The planetary heat spike was made 2.5 times more likely by greenhouse gases, according to researchers. Typhoon Gaemi in Asia and Hurricanes Helene and Milton in the US, similarly juiced by climate change, killed hundreds of people and caused colossal damage.
The landmark status for 2024 can be partly explained by the first five months coinciding with El Niño, a natural warm phase that supercharges global weather. But the planet is heating up so fast that even years with cooling trends, known as La Niña, are counted among the hottest of all time. The Met Office expects 2025 to be the third hottest, behind 2024 and 2023.
With the current conundrum—call it the ‘anti-hiatus’—scientists can point to physical reasons that are likely contributing to the fast-rising heat. They just don’t know yet which reasons are most important, or how long the trend will continue. Low-lying clouds reflect light back out to space, the way white polar ice caps do. They’re a part of the Earth’s albedo, or surface brightness. Sparser low clouds mean more heat hitting us where we live, and that’s what’s been happening in the last 20 years, especially the last several.
“Usually we do our small pieces of puzzles here and there, having small contributions to the big conversation,” Goessling said. “This one is only a small piece of a big puzzle, but still, it is one that fitted so neatly.”
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Metro Manila Film Festival 2024: Lineup Features Diverse Genres and Record-Breaking Number of EntriesThe 50th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is set to showcase a diverse lineup of 10 films, a record for the festival. The festival, which runs from December 25, 2024, to January 7, 2025, will feature films across various genres, including comedy, horror, and drama.
Read more »
Ohtani named AP’s best male athlete of 2024, 1 shy of recordLOS ANGELES—Shohei Ohtani is keeping elite company. The Japanese superstar caps 2024 by winning The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for the third time, tying him with basketball great Michael Jordan—he trails only four-time winners Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods and LeBron James.
Read more »
International visitor receipts reached record P712b in 2024Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Frasco underscored the agency’s commitment to advancing the country’s tourism in 2025. “With optimism and
Read more »
Wall Street Ends 2024 on a Down Note Despite Record GainsWall Street closed lower on Tuesday as investors concluded a year of impressive gains for the stock market, fueled by the artificial intelligence boom and the Federal Reserve's interest rate cuts. Despite the final day dip, 2024 saw record highs for major US indexes, driven by AI, rate cuts, and a strong US economy.
Read more »
BI Ends 2024 with Record Travel Figures and ModernizationThe Bureau of Immigration (BI) celebrated a successful 2024 with record-breaking travel numbers and significant advancements in modernization. This progress promises streamlined processes and enhanced border security in the future.
Read more »
BI Closes 2024 with Record Travel Numbers and Modernization AdvancementsThe Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported record-breaking travel figures for 2024, driven by the resurgence of international travel and the Philippines' appeal as a tourism destination. The BI also implemented modernization initiatives, including label-free processing at electronic gates, to streamline immigration processes and enhance border security.
Read more »