2024 was the Hottest Year on Record Globally
It's official, 2024 was the hottest year on record, highlighting the escalating impact of climate change. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), global surface temperatures rose by an alarming 1.49°C above pre-industrial levels, and 0.61°C higher than the 1991–2020 average. This makes 2024 not only the hottest year ever, but also the capstone of a decade defined by unprecedented heat.From catastrophic flooding to wildfires to searing heat waves surpassing 50°C, 2024 was marked by extreme weather events. The WMO revealed that climate change added 41 days of dangerous heat in 2024, intensifying 26 of the 29 weather disasters studied. These events claimed at least 3,700 lives, displaced millions, and caused untold damage to ecosystems and economies.A Record Year for China
Average temperature across China in 2024. Image via China Meteorological ServiceChina, too, was profoundly affected by the global warming trend. November 2024 was the warmest November on record for the country, with Beijing experiencing an average temperature of 6.5°C — 3.0°C higher than the historical norm.
This warmth wasn't limited to the capital; places like Tianjin, Shandong, and Inner Mongolia also shattered temperature records.Autumn (September to November) 2024 was the warmest in China's recorded history, with a national average temperature of 11.8°C, exceeding the norm by 1.5°C. 
