Climate Alert: January 2024 the Hottest January in Recorded History
January 2024 has set a new global record, marking it as the warmest January ever recorded. The ERA51 surface air temperature data reveals an astonishing average of 13.14°C, soaring 0.70°C above the standard January mean of the 1991-2020 period and edging out the previous record-holder, January 2020, by 0.12°C.
This is the eighth month in a row that is the warmest on record for the respective month of the year. The data further illustrates a concerning upward trajectory in global warming, with January 2024 standing 1.66°C warmer than the average temperatures estimated for the pre-industrial period of 1850-1900.
Furthermore, over the past twelve months, from February 2023 to January 2024, the planet has experienced its highest average temperature on record. The global mean temperature during this period was 0.64°C above the 1991-2020 average, and alarmingly, 1.52°C higher than the pre-industrial average, underscoring the accelerating pace of global warming.
This highlights a critical juncture in our global effort to combat climate change, particularly in the context of the Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement, a landmark accord reached in 2015 during the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) in Paris, united 196 nations in a shared mission. To limit global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with a more ambitious target of not exceeding 1.5°C. This threshold was established based on scientific consensus that surpassing it would significantly increase the risks and impacts of climate change, including more severe weather events, rising sea levels, and devastating impacts on biodiversity, ecosystems, and human livelihoods.
Temperature variations across Europe in January 2024 painted a diverse climatic picture: the Nordic countries experienced temperatures significantly below the recent three-decade average, while the southern parts of the continent basked in much warmer conditions. Beyond Europe's borders, this trend of temperature anomalies continued, with regions like eastern Canada, north-western Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia witnessing temperatures well above their averages. Conversely, western Canada, the central United States, and much of eastern Siberia recorded below-average temperatures.
Amid these fluctuating conditions, the El Niño phenomenon, known for its role in influencing global weather patterns, began to show signs of weakening in the equatorial Pacific. However, sea surface temperatures globally have continued to hover at unusually high levels, indicating that the planet's climate system remains in a state of heightened alert.
I understand it feels like I’m echoing the same urgent message, day in and day out, and surely you might be feeling the fatigue of hearing it repeatedly. However, we stand at a critical crossroads, facing a crisis that touches every corner of our lives—from the environment we cherish, to the economies we rely on, and the communities we call home. The evidence is clear and compelling: our planet is warming at an alarming rate, presenting immediate challenges that demand our attention as well as long-term hurdles that we must overcome through both mitigation and adaptation.
The moment demands urgent action, yet our politicians and world leaders are lagging behind, hesitant to implement decisive measures to cut carbon emissions and curb global warming. Instead of prioritising the planet's health, they seem preoccupied with short-term political manoeuvring, clinging to the status quo.
Thus, the responsibility shifts to us. We must come together and initiate impactful changes that will protect our future and secure a sustainable legacy for the generations that follow.
Sources: Copernicus: In 2024, the world experienced the warmest January on record
The ERA5 is the fifth generation of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) reanalysis for the global climate and weather for the past few decades to the present. It combines model data with observations from across the world into a globally complete and consistent dataset using the laws of physics.