Seven key facts about climate change in 2024
The global average temperature in 2024 has, for the first time, surpassed the 1.5°C threshold above pre-industrial levels.
The CO₂ concentration in the atmosphere reached a new record high of over 420 ppm in 2024, the highest level in at least 800,000 years.
Extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, droughts, and floods, have increased worldwide, driven by rising greenhouse gas emissions.
Since 1900, sea levels have risen by approximately 20 cm, with the rate of increase accelerating in recent decades.
The oceans have absorbed around 90% of the excess heat generated by climate change, leading to ocean warming and acidification, which threaten marine biodiversity.
The melting of glaciers and ice sheets, especially in Greenland and Antarctica, is a major contributor to sea level rise.
Without drastic measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the world is on track for over 2.7°C of warming by the end of the century, far exceeding the target set by the Paris Agreement.