Every year, the impacts of climate change continue to intensify. According to a recent report by the European climate service Copernicus, Earth experienced its second warmest November on record, second only to 2023. This report confirms what many climate scientists had predicted: this year’s temperature surge is expected to surpass last year’s record breaking heat, largely due to human-driven climate change and the ongoing effects of El Niño.
November 2024 saw an average global temperature of 57.38°F, which, although cooler than last year’s average of 59°F, still marked a significant temperature anomaly. These temperatures are extremely high for November and are a grim sign for the future. Jennifer Francis, a climate scientist stated “like 2023, it (2024) beat out perious Novembers by a large margin”. That huge margin was approximately 0.2°C from 1.3 to 1.5 which may not seem like a lot but is a huge difference across 1 year.
Another important piece of this is the 2015 Paris Agreement that states that human caused warming should be limited to under 2° and ideally under 1.5°. This means that after last year, the earth is no longer at an ideal temperature and changes must happen. Scientists have warned that the pace of warming is accelerating, making it likely that this year will set a new record for the hottest year in history. Many climate experts have even warned that reaching 1.5 °C of warming could trigger catastrophic effects, such as more frequent and severe extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and disruptions to ecosystems.
Samantha Burgess, the deputy director of Copernicus, a European climate service, stressed “ambitious climate action is more urgent than ever.” She explained that the rapid pace of warming is outpacing the ability of many plants and animals to adapt, putting species at greater risk of extinction and disrupting food webs. Agriculture is also under threat as pollinators, like bees, decline, and pests thrive in warmer conditions. Additionally, coastal communities are increasingly vulnerable to the threat of rising sea levels, which could displace millions of people.
As the world crosses the critical 1.5 °C threshold, climate scientists are calling for immediate and bold action to mitigate the impact of climate change. In light of these growing concerns, it is more important than ever for students and educators to engage in efforts to reduce our carbon footprint.