Record-Hot Year Signals Likely Breach of 1.5°C Global Warming Threshold
Two new studies suggest Earth may have entered a 20-year period where average temperatures exceed the critical 1.5°C limit set by the Paris Agreement.
- Global temperatures in 2024 averaged 1.6°C above pre-industrial levels, marking the hottest year on record and exceeding the 1.5°C threshold for the first time.
- The studies, published in Nature Climate Change, indicate that even a single year or 12 consecutive months above 1.5°C warming may signal a long-term breach of this critical limit.
- Researchers from Europe and Canada found that such temperature spikes historically correlate with a 20-year period of sustained warming at the same level.
- While the 2024 El Niño event contributed to the record heat, scientists emphasize that human-driven climate change remains the dominant factor.
- Experts warn that urgent and stringent action to cut greenhouse gas emissions is essential to limit further warming and reduce the risks of exceeding 1.5°C long-term.
The Independent 
CNN 
New Scientist 
The Japan Times 
ScienceAlert 
South China Morning Post 