2024 Declared China’s Hottest Year on Record: Weather Agency

The year 2024 was officially the hottest on record for China, marking a significant milestone in the country’s climate history, the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) reported.

The national average temperature reached 10.92 degrees Celsius (51.66 Fahrenheit), 1.03 degrees higher than the historical average. This makes 2024 the warmest year since full records began in 1961. “The top four warmest years have occurred in the past four years, with all of the top ten warmest years recorded in the 21st century,” the CMA highlighted in a statement on Wednesday night.

China faced unprecedented heat throughout the year, with July marking the hottest month ever observed, followed by record-breaking August temperatures and the warmest autumn on record. In Guangzhou, residents endured a record 240 days of temperatures exceeding 22°C (71.6°F), surpassing the previous record set in 1994.

Heatwaves and droughts severely impacted Sichuan, Chongqing, and the Yangtze River’s middle reaches during early autumn, contributing to significant agricultural and water resource challenges.

The United Nations confirmed that 2024 was also the hottest year globally. Scientists attribute this surge in extreme temperatures to global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions, primarily from burning fossil fuels.

Rising temperatures have cascading effects, including intensified storms, floods, and droughts. Warmer air holds more water vapor, while heated oceans drive greater evaporation, resulting in more destructive weather patterns.

Globally, the impacts were catastrophic. Flooding in Spain and Kenya, violent storms in the United States and the Philippines, and wildfires across South America defined a year of climate extremes. According to Swiss Re, natural disasters in 2024 caused $310 billion in economic losses.

In China, the effects of extreme weather were devastating. Dozens lost their lives in floods, including 48 fatalities in May when a highway collapsed after days of relentless rain. Thousands were displaced by extreme weather events, emphasizing the urgent need for mitigation strategies.

As the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, China has committed to peaking carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2060. However, the CMA’s findings underscore the urgent need for enhanced climate action.

Global targets, such as the Paris Agreement’s goal to limit warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, remain critical. Yet, the World Meteorological Organization reported that the January-September 2024 mean surface temperature was already 1.54°C above pre-industrial averages.

With climate extremes intensifying, the focus is now on whether global efforts can effectively curb warming and its devastating consequences.