2024 marked a grim milestone in the climate crisis, with global temperatures rising to 1.6°C above preindustrial levels, surpassing the critical 1.5°C target for the first time. This unprecedented heat, fueled by fossil fuel emissions and natural phenomena like El Niño, triggered catastrophic weather events, including record-breaking heatwaves, floods, and storms, causing immense suffering worldwide. Despite global pledges, carbon emissions reached a new high, putting the planet on a trajectory toward a dangerous 2.7°C of warming by century's end. Scientists stress the urgent need for immediate action to phase out fossil fuels and mitigate the escalating climate emergency.
