2024 Was the Hottest Year on Record — Here’s What Scientists Say That Means for Earth

Mar. 15, 2025

Hot summer day (stock image).Photo:ElOjoTorpe/Getty Stock Image

ElOjoTorpe/Getty Stock Image

Tallies from NASA and other meteorological organizations around the world are reporting that 2024 wasthe hottest yearon record.

According toNPR, meteorological associations recently released global temperature analyses, revealingEarth has warmed approximately1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above temperatures in the 1800s — before humans began burning large amounts of fossil fuels.

These findings are especially significant given that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published aspecial reportin 2018 stating that Earth would be at greater risk for moreextreme heat wavesand hurricanes, as well as a significant loss of biodiversity, should warming surpass 1.5 degrees Celsius.

NPR noted, however, that this number is a long-term average — meaning that a single year’s temperature increase does not necessarily mean Earth has reached a tipping point.

Man cooling down with water (stock image).ULISES RUIZ/AFP via Getty

ULISES RUIZ/AFP via Getty

As for the top producers of greenhouse gases?

A 2022report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)stated that 31% of greenhouse gas emissions are due to “Residential and Commercial” use, which included things like heat, refrigeration and air conditioning. Approximately 30% are from burning fossil fuels for industrial purposes; 29% are from gas used to fuel vehicles like cars and airplanes and about 10% came from agriculture — including emissions from livestock.

Sun in the sky (stock image).SEAN GLADWELL/Getty Stock Image

SEAN GLADWELL/Getty Stock Image

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According toClimate.gov, 2024 saw 27 “weather and climate disasters” in the U.S. alone — second only to 2023, which saw 28. These disasters included wildfires, tornadoes, multiple hurricanes (including a category 4), flooding and drought. The events caused at least $1 billion dollars in damages.

source: people.com