In 2024, Earth recorded its hottest year, according to data from the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, Europe’s leading environmental monitoring program.
As per Copernicus Climate Change Service, 2024 became the first year to exceed the 1.5°C (2.7°F) limit above the pre-industrial average set by the 2015 Paris Agreement, which aims to curb climate change.
A report by World Weather Attribution and Climate Central revealed that 2024 saw an average of 41 more days of extreme heat compared to previous years.
Hottest Year in India Since 1901
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), 2024 marked the hottest year in India since 1901. The annual mean temperature reached 25.75°C, 0.65°C above the long-period average, making it the highest recorded since 1901. The average maximum temperature stood at 31.25°C, 0.20°C above normal, marking the fourth-highest since 1901. IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra confirmed this at a virtual press briefing.
2024 surpassed 2016, which had a mean land surface temperature 0.54°C above normal, making 2024 the hottest year on record.
A Year of Climate Catastrophes
Throughout 2024, reports from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) emphasized the rapid pace of climate change and its impact on sustainable development. The year saw record rainfall, catastrophic flooding, extreme heat waves exceeding 50°C, and devastating wildfires. WMO’s “When Risks Become Reality: Extreme Weather” report found that climate change contributed to 41 additional days of dangerous heat, harming both human health and ecosystems.
Climate change intensified 26 of 29 weather events studied by World Weather Attribution, killing over 3,700 people and displacing millions.
Other planetary vital signs also hit record levels, including ocean acidity, sea-level rise, ice cover loss, heat-related mortality rates, and deforestation.
Looking Ahead to 2025
IMD forecasts above-average minimum temperatures across most of India in January 2025, with exceptions in parts of eastern, northwest, and west-central India. Maximum temperatures are also expected to be higher than normal for much of the country, except for specific areas in northwest, central, and eastern India. Cold wave days in January are likely to increase in the western and northern parts of central India. IMD also predicts below-average rainfall (less than 86% of the long-period average) for northern India from January to March.
The UK Met Office predicts 2025 will likely be one of the top three warmest years on record, following 2024 and 2023. Based on recent data, they estimate global temperatures in 2025 will range between 1.29°C and 1.53°C above pre-industrial levels.
