The world has just experienced its hottest decade

The Earth has recently undergone its hottest decade on record, marking a critical moment in climate history. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the years from 2015 to 2024 have been the warmest in nearly 200 years of record-keeping — with 2024 officially confirmed as the hottest year ever recorded.

This disturbing trend is not only persistent but accelerating. The State of the Global Climate report, widely regarded as the most trusted source of climate data, paints a dire picture: global warming is intensifying, sea levels are rising at unprecedented rates, and greenhouse gas concentrations have reached record highs.

2024 Breaks All Heat Records

Last year surpassed 2023 to become the hottest year since records began 175 years ago. It is likely also the first time global temperatures exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels (1850–1900 baseline). While this doesn’t mean we’ve permanently breached the threshold set under the Paris Agreement, scientists warn we are dangerously close.

The rise in global temperatures is primarily attributed to the record concentrations of greenhouse gases — carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide — now at their highest levels in 800,000 years. The situation was worsened by a short-term El Niño event, which contributed to warmer waters in the Pacific Ocean.

Long-term global warming now sits between 1.34°C and 1.41°C above the pre-industrial era, according to the WMO.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres stressed that staying within the 1.5°C limit is still technically possible but called on world leaders to “step up” immediately.

Ocean Temperatures and Sea Levels Are Surging

One of the most alarming consequences of rising air temperatures is the increase in ocean heat. Oceans absorb 90% of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases, and each of the past eight years has set new records for ocean warmth.

This has triggered widespread coral bleaching, intensified tropical storms, and accelerated the melting of sea ice. In 2024 alone, the rate of sea-level rise reached a record high, now more than doubling since the first satellite measurements began in 1993.

Sea-level rise, now averaging 4.7 millimeters per year, poses severe risks to coastal communities through flooding, erosion, and saltwater intrusion into freshwater systems. Massive glacier losses have also been reported — the worst on record in Norway, Sweden, Svalbard, and the tropical Andes over the past three years.

Climate Impacts Displaced Millions in 2024

The number of people displaced by climate-related disasters in 2024 was the highest in 16 years. Tropical cyclones, droughts, floods, wildfires, and extreme heat events forced millions from their homes.

In Saudi Arabia, temperatures soared to a shocking 50°C (122°F) during the Hajj pilgrimage. Meanwhile, extreme flooding devastated parts of India and Bangladesh, and wildfires tore through landscapes, destroying homes and disrupting agriculture.

In at least eight countries, one million more people experienced acute food insecurity compared to 2023, a stark indicator of how climate change is driving humanitarian crises worldwide.

The Planet’s Alarming Trajectory

Despite the urgency of these findings, scientists remain skeptical that global leaders will act swiftly enough. The State of the Global Climate report lays bare a world teetering on the brink, but the political will to change remains elusive.

Climate change may be part of Earth’s natural cycles — but what we are experiencing now is far more intense, rapid, and human-driven.

The message is clear: the window for meaningful action is closing. The question that remains is — will we act in time?