The world has officially endured a “decade of deadly heat,” with 2024 marking the culmination of 10 consecutive years of unprecedented temperature records, the United Nations (UN) announced. UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in his New Year’s message, called the situation “climate breakdown in real time” and issued a dire warning about the road ahead unless immediate action is taken to slash emissions and transition to a renewable energy future.
A Decade of Climate Extremes
The UN’s climate and weather agency, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), revealed that the outgoing year, 2024, is on track to become the warmest year ever recorded. This year’s milestone caps a relentless decade in which the 10 hottest years on record occurred consecutively, driven by escalating greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gas concentrations, such as carbon dioxide and methane, have reached record highs, effectively “locking in” additional heat for the years to come. According to WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo, this persistent rise in global temperatures translates to more frequent and severe climate extremes, with catastrophic consequences for human lives, ecosystems, and economies.
“Every degree of warming matters,” Saulo emphasized, adding that rising temperatures are just one part of a broader pattern of climate disruption. “This year, we saw record-breaking rainfall and flooding events, devastating wildfires, and tropical cyclones that took a terrible toll on human lives and economies.”
The Human Cost of Extreme Weather
The past year has been marked by an alarming surge in extreme weather events across the globe. A report by World Weather Attribution (WWA), a network of scientists studying the role of climate change in extreme weather, found that global warming intensified 26 of the 29 extreme events they analysed in 2024. These events claimed at least 3,700 lives and displaced millions of people worldwide.
Among the most devastating incidents were torrential rains and catastrophic flooding, which wreaked havoc on communities on every continent. Tropical cyclones left a trail of destruction, including the severe impact on the French overseas department of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean. Meanwhile, prolonged and intense heat waves scorched dozens of countries, with temperatures surpassing 50 degrees Celsius on multiple occasions. The report also highlighted the impact of wildfires, which razed vast areas of forest and grasslands, leading to massive ecological and economic losses. In total, climate change was found to have contributed an additional 41 days of dangerous heat in 2024 alone, underscoring the accelerating pace of global warming.
A Call for Urgent Action
UN Secretary-General António Guterres did not mince words in his address, urging nations to act swiftly to avert further catastrophe. “This is climate breakdown, in real time,” he said. “We must exit this road to ruin, and we have no time to lose. In 2025, countries must put the world on a safer path by dramatically slashing emissions and supporting the transition to a renewable future. It is essential, and it is possible.” The urgency of the situation is underscored by the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement, which seeks to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with a more ambitious target of 1.5°C. However, progress has been slow. In November, the WMO reported that the January-September mean surface air temperature in 2024 was already 1.54°C above the pre-industrial average, dangerously close to breaching the 1.5°C threshold.
The Path Forward
As global temperatures rise and heat events worsen, the WMO has called for greater international collaboration to address severe heat risks and climate extremes. The agency emphasized the importance of ramping up efforts to mitigate emissions, adapt to the changing climate, and strengthen resilience in vulnerable communities. While the challenges are immense, experts stress that solutions are within reach. Transitioning to renewable energy, reducing fossil fuel dependence, and investing in sustainable technologies are critical steps that can be taken now to secure a liveable future.
In the words of Guterres, “The choice is stark: we can either step up and meet the moment or continue down a path that endangers our planet and future generations. The time to act is now.” As the world enters 2025, the call for climate action has never been louder or more urgent. With the past decade serving as a grim reminder of the stakes, the next steps taken by nations and global leaders will determine the trajectory of the planet for generations to come.
