Key Highlights of Climate Change Progress 2024

---

Climate change isn’t slowing down anytime soon, nor is the conversation around it. With population explosion outpacing efforts to cool the planet and conserve natural resources, challenges continue to mount. However, despite concerns about the progress of climate change efforts in 2024 and the uncertainty of a sustainable future, significant strides have been made — offering hope that change is still possible.

Record-Breaking Temperature Surge

If you thought the past few years were hot, 2024 took it to another level. This year, global temperatures exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels — a critical threshold set by the Paris Agreement to prevent climate change’s most devastating effects.

Although technically, the agreement hasn’t been breached, as it measures temperature changes over a 20-year average. However, the fact that we’ve already hit this number is alarming. Without urgent action, it’s only a matter of time before we cross the threshold for good, reaching a point of no return.

What’s driving this heatwave? A combination of human-caused global warming and the natural El Niño phenomenon. While El Niño naturally raises global temperatures, human activities have seriously amplified its effects. 

How Extreme Weather Events Became the New Normal

Scientists warn that extreme weather events will become increasingly frequent and intense if these warming trends continue. However, even now, humans are already bearing the brunt of the consequences. The World Meteorological Organization reported that the rapid pace of climate change has intensified 26 out of 29 weather events, resulting in at least 3,700 fatalities and displacing millions more. Some of the worst disasters include the following.

Heatwaves

Heatwaves are baking vast expanses of the northern hemisphere, with more wildfires and extreme droughts sweeping across the globe. Human activity has contributed to an average of 41 extra days of dangerous heat in 2024, which is why this year is the hottest on record.

North America also felt the burn, with persistently high temperatures and seasonally lighter rainfall. Starting in March, long-lasting and unprecedented heatwaves affected Mexico and nearby areas within the heat dome, where 125 related deaths were reported. Millions of people endured perilous daytime and nighttime temperatures as a heat dome smothered Mexico, with a vast, persistent area of high pressure extending northward into Texas, Arizona and Nevada and southward over Belize, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador.

Southeast Asia also experienced a record-breaking heatwave. In the Philippines, heat indices peaked at 53°C (127°F) in Iba in April. The rise in dengue fever was also linked to the extreme high temperatures in Central Java, Indonesia. Meanwhile, political and civil unrest in Myanmar worsened the effects of rising temperatures, with temperatures reaching 47°C (117°F) in Chauk Township in Mandalay Region.

Droughts

The United States experienced extreme droughts in the Southwest and Northern Plains, although the entire country faced precipitation extremes. Some areas, like the dry regions of the Northern Plains and Lower Colorado River, saw below-average precipitation levels. Meanwhile, other areas, such as Northern California and parts of the Southeast, experienced above-normal rainfall, ending the year wetter than usual.

Globally, prolonged droughts and extreme temperatures threaten stable food supplies by drying up lakes, rivers and critical water reservoirs. In Brazil, drought conditions caused the Amazon River and its basin to drop to their lowest levels since 1902. The region has experienced below-average rainfall even during its wet seasons, as droughts have plagued the Amazon and much of South America—fueling the worst wildfires in more than a decade in Brazil and Bolivia.

Wildfire

Wildfires can occur naturally and even play a beneficial role in some ecosystems. However, climate change has extended wildfire seasons and human activities are making fires more frequent, intense and destructive.

2024 was the worst year for forest fires in many European countries. Ukraine experienced record-breaking wildfires that burned nearly one million hectares during the summer. The situation was exacerbated by the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, as satellite images showed fire lines aligning with the war front.

Portugal also suffered its deadliest wildfires in 2024, with unseasonably hot temperatures fueling the destruction of 100,000 hectares across the country. Meanwhile, 64,897 wildfires were reported in the United States, up from 56,580 in 2023. The Texas wildfires of late February were the largest and most destructive in the state’s history, scorching 1.1 million acres — making it the worst wildfire event in the entire U.S. that year.

Hurricanes and Typhoons

The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season was considered active, with 18 tropical storms — 11 of which reached hurricane strength and five developed into major Category 3 or higher hurricanes. Hurricane Helene was the deadliest of the season, claiming the lives of more than 150 people.

The Pacific typhoon season was the deadliest since 2013, with Tropical Cyclone Yagi causing widespread devastation across Southeast Asia and resulting in more than 600 fatalities. Viet Nam reported it as the strongest typhoon the country has experienced in the past 30 years.

Flooding Events

Catastrophic flooding reshaped southern Brazil’s land area when torrential rainfall struck, affecting 2.3 million people in Rio Grande do Sul and displacing more than 580,000. The estimated floodwater volume reached 1.5 billion cubic meters — enough to fill New York City’s water needs for more than a year.

Southeast Asia also experienced severe flooding in November, particularly in Thailand and Malaysia. The region endured six months’ rainfall in just five days due to the northeast monsoon. Millions of dollars were reported, with rice paddies submerged, crops destroyed and roads, houses and public infrastructure heavily damaged.

Spain also faced its worst disaster in murky waters after heavy rains in Málaga and Valencia led to catastrophic flooding, claiming 219 lives and affecting 190,000 others.

Climate-Resilient Future: Adaptation in Action

The resulting catastrophes in 2024 have intensified, making it one of the worst years on record for nearly all types of disasters. With the most vulnerable communities bearing the brunt of these impacts, global temperatures could rise by 2.6-3.1°C this century.

The severity of climate impacts means adaptation is as crucial as prevention. Resilience strategies must be implemented to help people survive in environments increasingly ravaged by extreme weather events.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released its latest Adaptation Gap Report, emphasizing the urgent need for resilience measures. The report highlighted that adaptation financing is not keeping pace with the growing need for climate-proof development. Progress in adaptation implementation is slow and countries must be more ambitious in preparing for escalating climate risks.

The report also revealed that the private sector funds only one-third of the adaptation finance gap. At the same time, the remaining two-thirds rely on public sector contributions, either through international or domestic resources. The private sector is urged to invest more in infrastructure and compliance to help bridge this gap, especially as 100 companies are responsible for over 70% of global emissions that contribute to climate change.

Some promising adaptation initiatives in 2024 included:

• Urban cooling projects: Tree-planting campaigns and reflective roofing to combat rising city temperatures.
• Nature-based solutions: Wetland and mangrove restoration to protect against sea-level rise.

However, experts warn that funding for adaptation remains critically insufficient, especially for developing nations disproportionately affected by climate change.

Rising Greenhouse Emission Threat

Human-caused greenhouse gas emissions have been the primary driver of global warming since the mid-20th century. Despite international efforts, emissions continue to rise. In 2024, the average atmospheric carbon dioxide levels reached a record high of 424.61 parts per million, compared to 421.08 in 2023. The Global Methane Budget also revealed that human activities account for at least two-thirds of global methane emissions, worsening air pollution and contributing to the greenhouse effect.

The United Nations warns that significant emissions reductions must occur by 2030 to meet global climate targets. What is the key solution? A rapid expansion of renewable energy and the complete phase-out of fossil fuels — the largest contributors to climate change, responsible for over 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Renewable Energy Powering the Future

The good news amid these alarming events is that clean energy is expanding faster than ever. In 2024, global energy demand grew by 2.2%. While this figure may seem small, it surpasses the average annual demand growth between 2013 and 2023. Notably, 80% of this demand came from emerging and developing countries.

Renewable energy also accounted for over 90% of all power expansions worldwide in 2024, highlighting its increasing accessibility. Additionally, 85% of countries support a rapid transition from fossil fuels to clean energy to ensure immediate benefits.

Solar Power

Solar energy is leading the surge, with global solar capacity on track to grow by 29%, reaching 593 GW of installed solar panels. The United States set a record by installing 50 gigawatts of new solar capacity in 2024 — the largest single-year addition in over two decades.

Advancements in solar technology include bifacial panels, perovskite solar cells, floating solar farms and solar-powered public transportation. This is particularly beneficial because public transport can cut significant emissions, with buses producing 22 to 92 grams of CO2 per passenger kilometer and trains emitting 6 to 118 grams per passenger kilometer.

Wind Power

Europe made significant progress in wind power, installing 16.4 GW of new wind capacity in 2024. The region is expected to install 187 GW more from 2025 to 2030. In the U.S., as of 2023, 92,000 turbines have been installed, with distributed wind applications across all 50 states.

Hydropower

In the United States, hydropower accounted for 27% of renewable electricity generated, making it the largest contributor to energy storage, with 96% of all commercial storage capacity being pumped storage hydropower. As the world faces droughts, hydropower is one of the best ways to mitigate their impact, with its reservoirs potentially preventing over $130 billion in annual GDP losses.

Global Unity or Empty Promises?

The Paris Agreement is the most recent global climate treaty, requiring nations to submit Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) every five years detailing their plans for emission reductions. However, progress has been slow, with only 15 countries meeting the submission deadline — representing less than 8% of the 194 signatories.

Criticism of the agreement centers on its lack of ambition and enforcement mechanisms. Since NDCs are not legally binding, countries can set targets without consequences for failing to achieve them. Another concern is the free-rider problem, where some nations benefit from global climate efforts without making significant contributions themselves. However, this issue is currently less relevant, given the widespread failure of countries to meet their commitments.

Despite the planet issuing more distress signals, the UN chief maintains that the Paris Agreement goals can still be achieved if renewables are leveraged. The record-breaking temperatures are causing irreversible changes, but taking action now can still lead to improvements.

Global climate agreements and financing took center stage in 2024. At the Climate Change Conference in Baku, 200 countries convened, with world leaders focusing on adaptation financing and how wealthier nations can support developing countries disproportionately affected by climate change. A key highlight was the proposal to triple climate finance for developing countries, directing $300 billion annually to help them mitigate climate change.

Another major milestone was the World Bank’s delivery of a record $42.6 billion in climate finance, prioritizing adaptation and resilience projects. Looking ahead, multilateral development banks aim to reach $120 billion in annual climate financing by 2030.

However, climate advocates argue that these figures are insufficient, calling for more aggressive financial commitments to keep global warming under control.

Turning Promise to Progress in 2024

2024 was a year of extremes in both alarming challenges and progress. While renewable energy is expanding and climate finance is increasing, emissions continue to rise and extreme weather events are getting worse. The world isn’t on track to meet its climate goals yet, but every effort, big or small, matters.