Scientists confirm that 2024 now surpasses every previous year in temperature measurements. A global average of about 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times shocks climate experts and threatens to push weather extremes into uncharted territory.
This figure represents a milestone that governments aimed to avoid. Yet, the warm trend continues to climb, challenging every assumption about when it might plateau.
In 2023, heat soared, breaking records that date back to the mid-1800s. Observers saw that as a wake-up call. Then came 2024. Fossil fuel emissions hit a historic peak, trapping more heat in the atmosphere.
An El Niño event compounded the situation, boosting temperatures early in the year. Scientists expected some relief when La Niña conditions emerged later, but the cooling effect never materialized.
Monthly temperature records tumbled from January to August. The longevity of these highs puzzled experts. A lack of cloud cover in key regions let more sunlight in, warming land and sea.
Certain shipping regulations reduced airborne particles, which ironically meant fewer clouds formed over major shipping routes. A volcanic eruption in the South Pacific in 2022 may also have injected water vapor high into the atmosphere, amplifying the greenhouse effect.
Some researchers see this combination of factors as an abrupt spike in natural variability. Others worry it signals that the climate system is more sensitive than once thought. Either way, the results are visible.
Storms swelled in intensity. Hurricanes hit coastlines with greater force. Residents of North Carolina and Florida reeled under the impact of Hurricane Helene. In June, 1,300 people in Saudi Arabia lost their lives during a punishing heat wave at the Hajj pilgrimage.
A wave of scientific investigations ensued. Specialists pored over ocean heat data, shipping records, cloud formation studies, and volcanic activity logs.
They concluded that human-driven emissions remain the core driver, but added influences pushed the temperature gauge higher than expected. Even a mild uptick in the sun’s radiation contributed slightly.
Despite the complexity, one fact remains simple: greenhouse gases continue to build, warming the planet. That persistent human influence means these temperature records may not stand for long. If 2025 continues on its current path, another scorching season could be on the horizon.
Heat waves and storms took a serious human toll in 2024. Researchers note that previously improbable temperatures now appear more often.
Western Europe and the Arctic showed unexpected heat surges beyond model predictions. Communities in the Middle East and North America also faced unprecedented stress on infrastructure and public health.
Passing the 1.5-degree threshold once does not necessarily trigger automatic irreversible changes, but scientists warn that repeated years above this line could unleash harsher consequences.
They stated that every fraction of a degree of warming intensifies weather patterns. A slight rise can produce dramatic regional extremes, affecting agriculture, housing, and daily life.
KEY VICTORIES IN AFRICA
Renewable energy
Renewable energy rises in the Sahel
In Niger, solar farms are rapidly expanding to power remote communities. Local leaders credit the Sahel Solar Initiative for raising electricity output by 30 percent this year.
They say solar power cuts dependence on diesel and stabilizes energy costs.
Farmers can now irrigate fields at night and store produce in cooler conditions. Teachers note that students benefit from reliable lighting in classrooms. This progress, outlined in a recent report from the Sahel Solar Initiative, shows how cleaner energy is improving rural livelihoods.
Kenya’s Turkana Wind Farm now lights up over 300,000 homes across the region. One local engineer says this landmark project supplies consistent power that replaces noisy, polluting diesel generators.
The shift also benefits wildlife conservancies dependent on stable ecosystems. Birds and other animals near the wind farm have adapted to rotating blades without major impacts, according to environmental monitors. The government cites the Turkana facility as a model for future renewable ventures.
Climate Finance
Climate finance gains in Ghana
Ghana secured a major loan to protect coastal zones and strengthen flood controls in Accra. This funding will help finance sea walls, reinforced drainage channels, and redesigned floodplains.
Community leaders say these measures are urgent because coastal erosion is already threatening homes and infrastructure.
Engineers note that better drainage can reduce disease risks tied to stagnant water. Local residents welcome the project, hoping it will stabilize property values.
Nature and Biodiversity
Indigenous forest protection in the Congo basin
Local communities joined forces with international NGOs to guard key forest regions. High-resolution satellite imagery helps identify illegal logging, sending alerts to rangers on patrol.
One ranger described how seeing fewer logging trucks signaled real progress this year. Conserving these vast forests also preserves essential habitats for gorillas, elephants, and many bird species. Researchers explained that the Congo Basin’s role as a carbon sink, key for slowing global warming.
Madagascar’s mangrove restoration
Fishing communities in Madagascar planted two million mangrove seedlings to counter shoreline erosion. Local fishers noticed crab and shrimp populations rebounding as the wetlands recovered.
Young people joined in seedling drives, learning how mangroves protect against storm surges. Community elders say cleaner water and robust fisheries now support family incomes. Scientists monitoring the area applaud the long-term benefits of planting these natural buffers.
COP16 and Biodiversity Goals
At COP16, the reaffirmation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework’s (GBF) Target 19a—committing to mobilize $20 billion annually by 2025 and $30 billion by 2030 was widely regarded as a major win for the Global South, where biodiversity conservation funding is most urgently needed.
Africa’s EV revolution shone bright
In a push to spur electric vehicle (EV) adoption across the continent, an increasing number of African nations either introduced or considered incentives to lower import duties and taxes on EVs. Kenya, for instance, reduced excise duties on electric buses and trucks to speed up adoption, while Morocco and Rwanda rolled out policies aimed at promoting e-mobility.
Meanwhile, continental bodies such as the African Union and the African Development Bank (AfDB) devised strategies to boost EV uptake, zeroing in on infrastructure, local manufacturing, and job creation. Private-sector players also stepped up, expanding charging networks in major urban areas. South Africa gradually rolled out charging stations along key highways, and Kenyan cities like Nairobi begun installing more charging points to meet growing demand.
Established automotive hubs also joined the movement. In South Africa, manufacturers transitioned segments of their production lines toward building EV components. At the same time, startups in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and Ghana attracted investment to develop e-motorcycles, e-buses, and e-trucks that cater to local needs.
In addition, Nairobi deployed a fleet of electric buses to tackle traffic pollution quieter rides and reduced exhaust fumes. City planners upgraded traffic lights to synchronize vehicle flow, cutting both congestion and emissions.
