news
- 2024 was officially the hottest year on record, with temperatures 2.34°F above the average temperature in 175 years of NOAA’s records and NASA’s 145-year record. This is a stark reminder of the urgent need to address climate change.
- The main drivers of this record-breaking heat were fossil fuels, which are the main cause of warmer temperatures worldwide, and the El Niño climate pattern, which raised global surface temperatures. However, scientists agree that climate change is the primary driver of these extreme temperatures.
- Despite the challenges, there are steps we can take to make a difference. We can contact our representatives, talk to friends and family about the importance of climate action, and join organizations like Citizens’ Climate Lobby to work towards effective climate solutions.
KEY PASSAGE
Can We Fix Things?
You may have read in the news that this year’s average temperatures reached or exceeded the 1.5°C threshold identified as a critical danger zone in the 2015 Paris Agreement. While this is alarming, the 1.5°C target refers to a 20-year global average, not a single year. Temperatures are prone to variations, especially in years affected by El Niño and La Niña so we need to look at a long period of time to keep track of our goals.
We still have time to get well below 2°C above pre industrial levels and stay close to the 1.5°C goal, but not enough time to sit back and relax. Every fraction of a degree brings us closer to dangerous and irreversible impacts. We need to act now.
Read the full post at Citizens Climate Lobby.
