In the summer of 2024, it became the hottest in the history of observations, emphasizing the continuous acceleration of global warming. According to Reuters, this year's summer beat all previous temperature records, exceeding even a record summer of 2023. This can be a signal that the whole 2024 year will go down in history as the hottest year on the planet.
Temperature records and extreme weather phenomena
This summer, the planet has survived the hottest June and August, as well as the warmest day in the history of observations. This was made possible by the combination of natural climate fluctuations and anthropogenic factors, including increased greenhouse gas emissions. If the governments of the countries do not take urgent measures to reduce emissions, the intensity of extreme weather conditions will only increase.
The effects of global warming are already felt around the world. This summer, Sudan encountered a catastrophic flood that has affected more than 300,000 people and brought cholera to a country covered by war. The Italian Islands of Sicily and Sardinia suffered from strong drought, which, according to scientists, is directly related to climatic changes. In the Philippines, Taiwan and China, Typhoon Gaemi, enhanced by climatic anomalies, took over 100 people.
Is every hot summer guaranteed?
Despite the fact that 2024 has broken temperature records, this does not mean that every successive summer will necessarily be warmer than the previous one. According to Candidate of Geographical Sciences Denis Pishniak, natural climatic fluctuations will continue, and we will observe the alternation of hot and cool years. However, the overall trend towards rising global temperatures remains obvious.
Winters will not disappear either, although not every year will be snowy. Pishniak notes that even when the snow falls, it does not always retain on the surface, especially because of the increase in average annual temperatures.
Where does the climatic crisis lead us?
Global warming poses new challenges to humanity. A constant increase in temperatures leads to frequent extreme weather phenomena such as typhoons, drought and floods. This requires immediate action from governments and international organizations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adapt infrastructure and technology development to counteract climate change.
However, even with the most optimistic scenarios, global warming has already caused serious consequences for the planet, and these changes will be noticeable for decades. The question remains: is humanity ready to act quickly enough to avoid the worst scenarios?
