According to the State of Climate 2024 report, published by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels have reached their highest point in the last 800,000 years due to global warming.

About State of Climate 2024 Report

• The Report was released by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) during the United National Climate Conference (COP29) in Baku.

Key Findings from the WMO State of Climate 2024 Report

• GHG Rise: CO₂ levels reached 420 parts per million in 2023, the highest in 8,00,000 years.
  • Methane (CH₄): 1923 parts per billion (266% of pre-industrial levels)
  • Nitrogen Oxide (N₂O): 335.8 parts per billion (124% of pre-industrial levels)
• Temperature Increase: This is the warmest year in the 175-year observational record.
  • 2024 was the first year to exceed the 1.5°C Paris Agreement threshold annually.
  • The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) predicts the 1.5°C threshold may be crossed by September 2029.
• Ocean Warming: Oceans Absorbing 90% of Global Heat: Ocean heat content highest in recorded history.
  • Sea levels continue to rise, with glaciers retreating rapidly.
  • Antarctic sea ice at its second-lowest extent ever recorded.
• Ocean acidification: Acidification of the ocean surface is continuing, as shown by the steady decrease of global average ocean surface pH.
• • The most intense regional decreases were recorded in the Indian Ocean, the Southern Ocean, the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, the northern tropical Pacific, and some regions in the Atlantic Ocean.
• Displacement: 2024 saw record extreme weather events: Tropical cyclones, Extreme rainfall & floods and Droughts
  • 2024 saw the highest number of climate-induced displacements since 2008.
• Negative Mass balance of Glaciers: 2022-2024 saw the largest three-year loss of glaciers on record. Seven of the last 10 years have had the highest negative mass balance of glaciers.

Reasons Behind the Climate Trends in the 2024 Report

• Record CO₂ and Greenhouse Gas Levels
  • Burning of Fossil Fuels: Continued use of coal, oil, and natural gas for energy.
  • Deforestation: Reduced carbon absorption capacity as forests shrink.
  • Industrial Emissions: Increased output from cement, steel, and chemical industries.
  • Agricultural Practices: Large-scale livestock farming releases methane (CH₄), and excessive fertilizer use contributes to nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions.
• Record-Breaking Global Temperature Rise
  • Greenhouse Effect Intensification: High CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O trap more heat.
  • El Nino: Warm ocean currents in early 2024 further increased global temperatures.
  • Urban Heat Island Effect: Expanding cities absorb and retain more heat.
• Ocean Warming and Sea Level Rise
  • Oceans Absorbing 90% of Excess Heat: Due to global warming, oceans act as a heat sink.
  • Melting Polar Ice Caps: Increased ice melt from Greenland and Antarctica.
  • Thermal Expansion: As water heats up, it expands, rising sea levels.
  • Increased CO₂ Absorption by Oceans: More atmospheric CO₂ dissolves in seawater, forming carbonic acid.
• Extreme Weather Events & Climate-Induced Displacements
  • Higher Atmospheric Moisture: More water vapor leads to stronger storms and floods.
  • Stronger Cyclones & Hurricanes: Warmer ocean temperatures fuel more intense storms.

International Efforts to Address Climate Change

• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): Established in 1992 to combat climate change through multilateral agreements.
  • It hosts annual Conference of the Parties (COP) meetings for climate negotiations.
• Paris Agreement (2015)
  • Goal: Limit global warming to well below 2°C, with efforts to keep it under 1.5°C.
  • Countries submit Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to reduce emissions.
  • Focus on climate finance, with developed nations pledging $100 billion annually to assist developing countries.
• Global Methane Pledge: Launched in 2021 at COP26 to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030.
  • Over 150 countries have joined, focusing on oil & gas, agriculture, and waste management.
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change.
  • Through its assessments, the IPCC determines the state of knowledge on climate change.
  • The IPCC does not conduct its own research.
• Global Ocean Treaty (2023): Aims to protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030.
• UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030): Supports forest and marine conservation efforts.

Challenges in the Implementation of Climate Change Actions

• Energy Transition Challenges:
  • High Dependence on Coal: Example: India still relies on coal for over 50% of its electricity generation, making a rapid transition to renewables difficult.
    • Intermittency of Renewable Energy: Solar and wind power generation depend on weather conditions, requiring large-scale battery storage, which is expensive.
    • Grid Infrastructure: The national power grid needs major upgrades to integrate large amounts of renewable energy.
    • Dependence on Foreign Technology: A large share of solar panels, wind turbines, and battery technologies are imported, increasing costs and dependency.
• Industrial & Urban Challenges
  • Rapid Urbanization: Growing cities increase energy demand, vehicle emissions, and waste generation, making low-carbon urban planning complex.
  • Infrastructure Development vs. Sustainability: Expanding highways, airports, and industrial zones often leads to deforestation and environmental degradation.
    • Cement, steel, and transport industries are energy-intensive and difficult to decarbonize.
• Agriculture Challenges:
  • Agricultural Dependence on Fossil Fuels: Farmers rely on diesel pumps and chemical fertilizers, making decarbonization in agriculture a challenge.
• Limited and Insufficient Climate Finance: From 2018 to 2022, advanced economies contributed 45% of global climate finance, while least developed countries (LDCs) received only 3%. (Global Landscape of Climate Finance, 2024).
  • India has rejected the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG) adopted in COP29 and criticized the proposed goal of mobilizing $300 billion annually by 2035 as “too little and too distant,”.
• Disparities in Responsibility and Action: Developed nations have historically contributed more to emissions, yet developing countries face greater consequences.
• Greenwashing Risks: Some corporations and governments exaggerate their climate efforts without meaningful action.

Way Forward

• Early Warning Systems: Despite technological advancements, one-third of the global population still lacks access to effective early warning systems. The UN has set a goal to ensure universal coverage within five years.
• Mitigation Strategies: Strengthening Net-Zero Commitments and enforcing stricter carbon regulations.
  • Expanding renewable energy adoption, particularly in developing economies
  • Scaling up carbon capture and storage technologies
• Adaptation Measures: Investment in climate-resilient infrastructure, particularly in coastal and drought-prone areas
  • Sustainable agriculture practices to combat food insecurity
  • Forest conservation and afforestation to enhance carbon sinks
• Climate Financing: There is a need to scale up funding beyond the $100 billion target to meet global climate needs.
  • Debt-for-Climate Swaps mechanisms can be used to negotiate debt relief in exchange for investments in climate action.
  • Involving Global South nations in decision-making on climate finance mechanisms.

Conclusion

The State of the Global Climate 2024 Report serves as a wake-up call. With climate change accelerating at an unprecedented pace, immediate action is required at all levels.

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