2024 Registered as China’s Hottest Year in Recorded History
2024 marked China’s warmest year on record, according to the China Meteorological Administration, with the average temperature reaching 10.92 degrees Celsius. This year’s extreme temperatures correlate with increased occurrences of floods and other natural disasters. Globally, 2024 is projected to be the warmest year on file, with notable impacts on agriculture, human life, and economic stability worldwide.
According to the China Meteorological Administration, 2024 has officially been declared the hottest year in recorded history in China, with the average national temperature reaching 10.92 degrees Celsius (51.66 degrees Fahrenheit). This marks a rise of 1.03 degrees from the average, signaling a concerning trend amid increasing global climate change and extreme weather events. The agency noted that the past four years are the warmest ever recorded, with all of the top ten hottest years occurring in the 21st century.
Furthermore, this year alone has seen unprecedented temperatures, including the hottest month, August, and the warmest autumn on record. In a broader context, the United Nations noted recently that 2024 is projected to be the warmest year globally, a worrying indication of ongoing climate issues. Such warming influences atmospheric conditions, leading to sustained heavy rainfall and exacerbated storms, resulting in substantial economic and human costs.
China has encountered numerous weather-related disasters due to these climatic shifts. Last year, devastating floods across the country claimed dozens of lives, including a catastrophic highway collapse in southern China that resulted in 48 fatalities. In the city of Guangzhou, residents endured an unusually long summer, with 240 days of temperatures exceeding 22 degrees Celsius (71.6 degrees Fahrenheit), surpassing the record set in 1994. Meanwhile, regions such as Sichuan and Chongqing faced severe heat and drought in early autumn.
Globally, the year also witnessed destructive flooding in Spain and Kenya, violent storms affecting the United States and the Philippines, and widespread drought and wildfires in South America. Economic losses due to natural disasters reached $310 billion this year alone, as reported by the Zurich-based insurance firm, Swiss Re.
The report from the China Meteorological Administration underscores the critical reality of climate change, particularly how rapid shifts in temperature are contributing to extreme weather phenomena worldwide. As the leading emitter of greenhouse gases, China’s situation mirrors global trends where rising temperatures result in severe weather events affecting both human life and economic stability. Scientific consensus indicates that global warming is primarily driven by human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, leading to more warming in the ambience and oceans. This context further establishes the significance of addressing climate emissions to mitigate such catastrophic impacts.
In conclusion, the declaration of 2024 as the hottest year on record in China presents a stark reminder of the pressing realities of climate change. The correlation between rising global temperatures and increased extreme weather events necessitates urgent action to curb greenhouse gas emissions. As nations strive to meet climate goals set forth in international agreements such as the Paris Accord, the implications of ongoing climate shifts highlight the critical need for collective environmental stewardship.
Original Source: www.rfi.fr
