As the year draws to a close, scientists are raising alarms: 2024 is poised to become the hottest year on record. This will mark the first time Earth surpasses the 1.5 degrees Celsius global warming limit set by the Paris Climate Accord. However, despite this record-breaking heat, future generations may see 2024 as relatively mild compared to what lies ahead.
Human activity, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, continues to heat the planet. The climate we experience today—with its milder winters and less extreme weather—will soon be a distant memory. For children born now, the hotter and stormier climate of the future will feel like the norm, shaped by a psychological phenomenon called shifting baseline syndrome.
This mindset causes people to adapt to current environmental conditions, leading to a gradual acceptance of declining environmental standards.
Since the 1970s, global temperatures have been steadily rising, with a sharp acceleration over the past decade. Scientists attribute this trend partly to El Niño events, which warm the tropical Pacific Ocean and increase global temperatures.
However, the primary driver remains human-induced greenhouse gas emissions. Gavin Schmidt, a leading climate scientist, warns that humanity is “putting its foot on the accelerator” of climate change.
The implications are dire. Without significant action to curb carbon emissions, the world is expected to consistently breach the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold within the next decade. By 2100, current policies could result in a 3 degrees Celsius rise in global temperatures. This would exacerbate extreme weather events such as intense rainfall, scorching heatwaves, wildfires, and droughts.
Every fraction of a degree matters. Each small increase intensifies climate impacts, making disasters stronger and more frequent. While 2024 will set a concerning precedent, it’s a stark reminder of the urgent need for global action to limit warming and protect future generations from escalating climate crises.
Reducing emissions, transitioning to renewable energy, and adapting to inevitable changes are critical steps toward a sustainable future. The decisions made today will shape the climate for centuries to come.
Reference- National Geographic, BBC, Climate Tends report, UN report, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)