2024 has officially been confirmed as the warmest year on record, with global temperatures surpassing the 1.5°C threshold mentioned in the Paris Agreement, Alberto Troccoli, the managing director of World Energy & Meteorology Council at the School of Environmental Studies at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, told NE Global on January 25, referring to the latest Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) data.
He added, however, it is important to clarify that this does not signify permanently exceeding the 1.5°C target outlined in the Agreement. For that benchmark to be officially crossed, global temperatures must sustain 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels for an extended period—typically at least a decade, though some definitions extend this timeframe to 30 years, Troccoli explained.
“The trend, however, is unmistakable. With rising greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and their growing concentrations in the atmosphere, it is highly likely that temperatures will continue to climb. Reversing this trend is not an option, as the GHGs already present in the system have lifetimes spanning decades to centuries. At best, immediate and aggressive mitigation efforts could slow or halt the rate of warming,” Troccoli said.
C3S is implemented on behalf of the European Commission by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), whose scientists have been monitoring key climate indicators, and documenting unprecedented daily, monthly, and annual temperature records over 2024. According to Copernicus, human induced climate change remains the primary driver of extreme air and sea surface temperatures; while other factors, such as the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), also contributed to the unusual temperatures observed during the year.
“The climate is changing whether politicians like it or not,” Tatiana Mitrova, a research fellow at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy, told NE Global on January 23. “As we see more intense wildfires, heatwaves, and other extreme events, the costs of adapting to these changes are only going to rise. Shifting focus from mitigation to adaptation is becoming unavoidable, though it’s a much more expensive way to deal with the problem,” she added.
In California, wildfires ripped through the Los Angeles area and continue to wreak havoc.
Mitrova stressed that while 1.5°C threshold is a useful benchmark, it’s an approximation. “Climate change is an incredibly complex and non-linear process. Things could suddenly get worse, or we might hold steady for a while. But the science is clear: the direction we’re heading in isn’t up for debate. Smart governments, cities, and companies understand this, and they’ll keep working on climate solutions regardless of Trump’s decisions,” the research fellow at Columbia University said.
Trump’s Paris climate agreement withdrawal
Right after being sworn in for the second time as U.S. President, Donald Trump declared that his country would exit the Paris Agreement, a global treaty through which nations set carbon emissions reduction goals to limit global warming. He also vowed to ramp up U.S. oil production, reviving the “Drill, baby, drill” slogan and signed two Executive Orders designed to reverse the efforts of the previous U.S. administration to boost electric vehicles and wind power.
“What’s interesting is that the energy transition is starting to make more sense economically, too,” Mitrova said. “Solar is now the cheapest energy source, EVs are taking over from traditional cars, and technological progress is driving this shift. It’s a competitive, natural evolution that no one can really stop at this point,” she added.
“As for Trump stepping back from climate commitments, the most likely outcome is that China will step up. They’ve been positioning themselves to dominate green technology markets for years, and this will only solidify their lead. If the U.S. gives up its seat at the table, China will reap the benefits – future markets, jobs, and influence in the clean energy space,” Mitrova argued.
Troccoli said Trump’s recent announcements, despite positive progress initiated under prior U.S. leadership, are unlikely to aid mitigation efforts needed to slow or halt the rate of warming. “Plans for expanded fossil fuel extraction will inevitably add more GHGs to the system, complicating efforts to curb emissions,” Troccoli said, adding, “The urgency for coordinated global action has never been greater, as the planet edges closer to critical and potentially irreversible climate thresholds.”
2025 declared International Year of Glaciers Preservation
Meanwhile on January 21, UNESCO and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) have officially launched the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, marking a crucial milestone in global efforts to protect these essential water towers that provide freshwater to over 2 billion people worldwide. Numerous activities and events during the year will seek to raise global awareness about the critical role of glaciers in the climate system and hydrological cycle, while addressing the urgent challenges posed by accelerated glacier melting.
According to UNESCO, more than 275,000 glaciers worldwide cover approximately 700,000 km². Glaciers and ice sheets store about 70 percent of the global freshwater supply. However, these ice formations are rapidly retreating due to climate change. The preservation of these crucial resources is essential not only for environmental sustainability, but also for economic stability and safeguarding cultural services and livelihoods. “The preservation of glaciers stands as one of humanity’s most urgent challenges,” UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay said in a statement, adding, “These ancient ice formations are not just frozen water – they are the guardians of our planet’s climate history, the source of life for billions, and sacred places for many cultures. Their rapid disappearance is a stark reminder that we must act now.”
