According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), about 50% of the extreme weather events recorded in 2024 took place in Europe. Scientists warn that Earth’s climate system is in a critical state.
The year 2024 became the hottest on record in 175 years of instrumental observations. According to the WMO’s State of the Global Climate report, the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has reached a record high in the past 800,000 years. Every year of the last decade has been the warmest in recorded history.
Experts emphasize that 2024 was likely the first year in history when the average global temperature exceeded pre-industrial levels by more than 1.5°C. Despite this, the WMO notes that keeping the temperature rise within 1.5°C is still possible but requires immediate and decisive action.
In 2024, at least 152 unprecedented extreme weather events were recorded worldwide. These events caused significant population displacement, worsened the food crisis, and led to major economic losses.
According to the WMO, Europe experienced 75 unprecedented weather events last year. These included 34 heatwaves, numerous floods, droughts, and heavy rainfall. As a result of these disasters, more than 5,600 people were affected, 111 lost their lives, and tens of thousands were forced to leave their homes.
