<p>It is known that globally, temperatures have been rising every month and there were periodical reports about some months turning out to be hotter than they were in the past. </p><p>The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has now announced that 2024 was the warmest year since 1901 when temperatures started getting recorded. </p><p>That would also probably make the year the hottest in history. With an annual mean temperature of 25.75 °C, 2024 was 0.65 °C above the long-term average (1991-2020). The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has observed that 2024 was the warmest year for the world, exceeding for the first time the threshold of 1.5 °C above the pre-industrial level. </p><p>The last 10 years were the hottest 10 years in history. There is a possibility that this year will be hotter than the last.</p>.2024 warmest year in India since 1901, says IMD.<p>The WMO has said that as the global temperatures increased and extreme heat events worsened, there was a growing need for countries and international organisations to work together to tackle severe heat risks. </p><p>It also said climate change intensified 26 of the 29 extreme weather events studied by World Weather Attribution (WWA) in 2024, which killed at least 3,700 people and displaced millions. It said high temperatures were “only part of the picture.” Record-breaking rainfall, flooding events, and other manifestations of climate change caused terrible loss of lives and property and much suffering. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said this is climate breakdown in real time and we “must exit this road to ruin and we have no time to lose.’’ </p><p>He called upon countries to put the world on a safer path by dramatically slashing emissions and supporting the transition to a renewable future. Such opinions and sentiments have been expressed and calls have been made many times in the past but governments have not responded or cared enough to slow down climate change or mitigate its impact.</p>.<p>Since climate change is a reality, mitigation should get significantly higher priority than in the past. The measures to be taken should include establishment of disaster management systems and heat action plans. Agriculture, construction, and allied sectors will be hit the most and safeguards should be created to protect them. </p>.<p>There will be serious challenges to water and food security. Sectors such as health, education, and tourism will be affected. Even now, there is no comprehensive view on the impact of climate change on life. It is surprising that it is not on the agenda of political parties and leaders. Climate change remains the most serious threat to humanity, an existential challenge that should be treated as such.</p>
<p>It is known that globally, temperatures have been rising every month and there were periodical reports about some months turning out to be hotter than they were in the past. </p><p>The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has now announced that 2024 was the warmest year since 1901 when temperatures started getting recorded. </p><p>That would also probably make the year the hottest in history. With an annual mean temperature of 25.75 °C, 2024 was 0.65 °C above the long-term average (1991-2020). The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has observed that 2024 was the warmest year for the world, exceeding for the first time the threshold of 1.5 °C above the pre-industrial level. </p><p>The last 10 years were the hottest 10 years in history. There is a possibility that this year will be hotter than the last.</p>.2024 warmest year in India since 1901, says IMD.<p>The WMO has said that as the global temperatures increased and extreme heat events worsened, there was a growing need for countries and international organisations to work together to tackle severe heat risks. </p><p>It also said climate change intensified 26 of the 29 extreme weather events studied by World Weather Attribution (WWA) in 2024, which killed at least 3,700 people and displaced millions. It said high temperatures were “only part of the picture.” Record-breaking rainfall, flooding events, and other manifestations of climate change caused terrible loss of lives and property and much suffering. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said this is climate breakdown in real time and we “must exit this road to ruin and we have no time to lose.’’ </p><p>He called upon countries to put the world on a safer path by dramatically slashing emissions and supporting the transition to a renewable future. Such opinions and sentiments have been expressed and calls have been made many times in the past but governments have not responded or cared enough to slow down climate change or mitigate its impact.</p>.<p>Since climate change is a reality, mitigation should get significantly higher priority than in the past. The measures to be taken should include establishment of disaster management systems and heat action plans. Agriculture, construction, and allied sectors will be hit the most and safeguards should be created to protect them. </p>.<p>There will be serious challenges to water and food security. Sectors such as health, education, and tourism will be affected. Even now, there is no comprehensive view on the impact of climate change on life. It is surprising that it is not on the agenda of political parties and leaders. Climate change remains the most serious threat to humanity, an existential challenge that should be treated as such.</p>
