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In 2024, Earth recorded its hottest year ever, with average temperatures 1.28 degrees Celsius above the 20th-century norm, according to NASA. This new milestone follows a historic 15-month streak of rising temperatures, marking the warmest conditions since record-keeping began in 1880. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized the critical need to understand our climate impacts, as ongoing crises, including wildfires and rising sea levels, escalate. The average temperature was particularly alarming, estimated to be about 1.47 degrees Celsius warmer than the 1850–1900 average, with significant periods exceeding 1.5 degrees above the baseline.
Scientific assessments link this warming to the increased concentrations of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, which rose to about 420 parts per million from around 278 pre-industrial levels. Contributing factors include a strong El Niño and possible influences from volcanic activity. Moreover, independent studies confirm that 2024 was a record-breaking year for global surface temperatures. These findings highlight a clear trend of climate change, manifesting in extreme weather and altering daily weather patterns, necessitating urgent attention to emission reduction and climate policy, particularly in light of the goals set by the Paris Agreement.
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