41 extra days of heat reveal the urgent threat of climate change
- In 2024, an average of 41 additional days of dangerous heat was recorded globally, attributed to climate change.
- Antonio Guterres highlighted the need for urgent action in 2025 to mitigate climate impacts and transition to renewable energy.
- The disparity in heat and cold-related deaths underscores the complexity of the climate crisis and the necessity for comprehensive action.
In 2024, the world marked a significant milestone in the fight against climate change, as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced a decade plagued by extreme heat. This year's climate crisis was underscored by record-high temperatures, surpassing 2023, with July setting a new record for the hottest day globally. Data indicated that the average temperature was at least 1.5C higher than pre-industrial levels, leading to devastating outcomes globally. Reports highlighted that people spent an average of 41 extra days under dangerous heat due to human activity contributing to climate change. Guterres addressed the severe implications of ongoing conflicts, particularly in Ukraine and the Middle East, emphasizing that such strife exacerbates climate impacts, causing significant human suffering and displacement. His New Year’s message included pleas for countries to adopt immediate measures to cut emissions and transition to renewable energy sources. He expressed a need for hope amidst dire circumstances, pointing to various groups, including activists and humanitarian workers, striving to make a difference. Looking ahead, Guterres reiterated that governments must act decisively in 2025, branding it as a pivotal year for humanity's environmental trajectory. He stressed that ongoing fossil fuel reliance would further complicate our climate situation. The report emphasized that while the rise in temperature poses direct threats, policymakers must also address the critical issue of cold-related deaths which historically have outnumbered those caused by extreme heat. With climate change affecting weather patterns, the disparity in death rates associated with cold and heat has become apparent. Studies revealed that approximately nine times more individuals die from cold-related incidents than from extreme heat. The UN chief’s messages resonate with the larger global effort to adhere to the Paris Agreement guidelines, urging nations to keep warming below 2C and ideally 1.5C as signed in the landmark deal, underlining the urgency of collective action for a sustainable future.