Physical Address
23,24,25 & 26, 2nd Floor, Software Technology Park India, Opp: Garware Stadium,MIDC, Chikalthana, Aurangabad, Maharashtra – 431001 India
In a warning aimed at global leaders and citizens alike, the United Nations has revealed that 2024 saw an alarming escalation in climate-related disasters, with more than 150 significant events recorded worldwide. The new data confirms that the world is on a dangerous path, driven by greenhouse gas emissions and ongoing dependence on fossil fuels. The world is on a perilous path from record-breaking heat to destructive floods and storms.
The findings come from the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) State of the Global Climate 2024 report, which described the current trajectory as a “red alert”.
Global Temperature Records and Disrupted Weather Patterns
The report identifies 2024 as the hottest year ever recorded globally, with widespread consequences for ecosystems, agriculture, and human health. Rising temperatures accompanied marine heatwaves, glacier retreats, and shrinking Antarctic sea ice to record lows. Over 800,000 individuals lost their homes in 2024 due to climate-related disasters — the largest annual total recorded since tracking began in 2008.
“This is the first time that every month in a year has been the hottest on record,” said Prof Celeste Saulo, the newly appointed secretary general of the WMO. She described the situation as a “red alert”, noting, “Never have we been so close to the 1.5°C lower limit of the Paris Agreement on a temporary basis.”
The effects of these record temperatures were seen across continents. Heatwaves pushed temperatures close to 50°C in several regions, reaching 49.9°C in Carnarvon (Western Australia), 49.7°C in Tabas (Iran), and 48.5°C during a sweeping heat event in Mali. The ocean absorbed much excess heat, leading to more intense tropical cyclones and rising sea levels.
Disasters on Land: Floods, Storms, and Food Security
Beyond the rising heat, the world experienced an explosion of extreme weather events. In 2024, global warming intensified storms worldwide—the Philippines faced six typhoons in less than a month, Florida’s Big Bend saw its most powerful hurricane on record (Helene), and Vietnam’s Super Typhoon Yagi impacted 3.6 million residents. Several other extreme events likely went undocumented. The frequency and intensity of these disasters have led to growing concern over the readiness of infrastructure and communities to cope with future events.
“We have the tools, the knowledge and the solutions that can help us to break the cycle of disaster and to reduce the impacts of climate change,” Saulo stated in the report. Still, she acknowledged that 2024’s cascade of events showed how fragile many regions remain in the face of climate volatility.
Another primary concern raised in the report was the link between climate shocks and food production. Saulo explained that these extremes “have a major impact on socio-economic development, the environment, and food security.” Crop failures, livestock deaths, and rising food prices will become more common unless climate adaptation strategies are widely implemented.
Financing Adaptation and Addressing the Inequality Crisis
The report highlights the science and calls for action, particularly on adaptation and financial support for vulnerable nations. According to the WMO, global funding for climate adaptation is far below what is needed, and the gap is growing. As disasters intensify, developing countries are often left with the least capacity to rebuild or prepare.
Saulo pointed out that the climate crisis is “closely intertwined with the inequality crisis.” She emphasised the disproportionate burden carried by poorer communities and countries that contribute the least to emissions yet face the worst consequences.
Despite the grim statistics, the WMO maintains that solutions are within reach. The report urges expanding early warning systems, investing in renewable energy, and fulfilling international climate finance commitments. As Saulo put it, “We are way off track to meet the climate targets set in the Paris Agreement.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres added urgency to this call: “Leaders must step up – seizing the benefits of cheap, clean renewables for their people and economies – with new national climate plans due this year.” The Report’s findings are a clear call to action to mitigate emissions and rethink how the world prepares for and recovers from climate disasters. With 2024’s record-breaking events serving as a global wake-up call, the message is louder than ever: inaction is not an option.
References:
https://wmo.int/publication-series/state-of-global-climate-2024
https://wmo.int/sites/default/files/2025-03/WMO-1368-2024_en.pdf
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Photo by Samiul Haque Bhuyan on Unsplash
