GENEVA: The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) of the United Nations announced that climate change was responsible for extreme weather events and unprecedented temperatures in 2024. The organization urged global action to prevent further environmental degradation and highlighted the record rate of greenhouse gas emissions recorded this year.
According to Qatar News Agency, the WMO indicated in a report released Monday that the unified global temperature figure for 2024 will be published next January, with a comprehensive report on the global climate state set for March 2025. The organization emphasized the significance of each degree of warming, which heightens extreme weather events and associated risks. The report also noted that while temperatures are only one element, climate change is manifesting visibly on a near-daily basis.
Celeste Saulo, WMO Secretary-General, remarked, "Climate change is happening almost daily before our eyes, with extreme weather events increasing in frequency and impact." She highlighted the severe consequences of climate change, including record rainfall, flooding, and substantial loss of life across multiple continents.
The report detailed extensive human and economic losses due to tropical cyclones, particularly in the French province of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean. It also cited temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius in several countries and devastating forest fires.
The WMO report underscored the urgency of the Early Warning for All initiative, which supports climate services development and provision. This initiative is a crucial component of WMO's efforts to facilitate climate adaptation. The organization is also working on launching the Global Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Initiative and supporting the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. In 2025, there will be a significant focus on the cryosphere, including sea ice, ice sheets, and frozen ground, in line with the International Year for the Preservation of Glaciers designated by UNESCO and WMO.
The report also highlighted that climate change intensified 26 out of 29 weather events studied by the World Weather and Climate Classification Center. These events resulted in a minimum of 3,700 fatalities and displaced millions. Climate change was also responsible for an additional 41 days of dangerous heat in 2024, adversely affecting human health and ecosystems.
The WMO stressed the importance of enhancing international cooperation to address extreme heat risks. A group of experts from 15 international organizations, 12 countries, and several leading academic and non-governmental organizations convened at WMO headquarters from December 17 to 19. Their goal was to develop a coordinated framework to tackle the escalating threat of extreme heat, responding to the UN Secretary-General's call for action.