This year is “virtually certain” to be the warmest year since climate records began, a new EU report has warned.
The report from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) warns that 2024 will be first year that see global warming breach 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.
Copernicus observes global surface air and sea temperatures, sea ice cover and hydrological variables to measure climate change.
The report said that it is "virtually certain" 2024 will be the hottest on record since climate records began, with the warming rising to above 1.5C for the first time.
Global Average Temperatures
According to the service’s latest report, last month was the second-warmest October on record at a global level – with October 2023 in first place.
It notes that last month had an average surface air temperature of 15.25C, which is 0.8C above the 1991 - 2020 average for the month.
The report warns that October was also 1.65C above pre-industrial levels.
Meanwhile, the global average temperature for the past year was 0.74C above the 1991 - 2020 average.
Copernicus is warning that global average temperatures would have to drop almost zero for the rest of the year to prevent 2024 becoming the warmest year on record and breaching 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.
"A new milestone in global temperature records"
Copernicus deputy director Samantha Burgess has said it is "virtually certain" 2024 will be the hottest year on record.
"This marks a new milestone in global temperature records and should serve as a catalyst to raise ambition for the upcoming Climate Change Conference, COP29," she said.
European temperatures were above average over almost all of the continent.
Sea temperatures, meanwhile, were the second highest on record.
Copernicus also found "above average" precipitation in numerous regions and pointed to the recent flooding in Spain as an example of the devastation it can cause.
