New Delhi: The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned that record-breaking temperatures from 2024 will persist into 2025, with greenhouse gas (GHG) levels reaching unprecedented highs. This continued rise in global temperatures is expected to make 2025 one of the three warmest years on record, closely following 2024 and 2023.
The WMO has confirmed that 2024 has been the warmest year on record, surpassing the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C threshold above pre-industrial levels. UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the past decade as a period of “deadly heat,” with all ten of the warmest years on record occurring within this time frame.
India Faces Unprecedented Heat
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has reported that 2024 was the hottest year in India’s recorded history since 1901. The annual mean land surface air temperature in India was 0.65°C above the long-term average, with minimum temperatures rising by 0.90°C. This surpassed the previous record set in 2016.
Experts attribute this extreme heat to climate change, El Niño effects, and rising sea surface temperatures. Despite the transition to La Niña conditions, ocean temperatures remain unusually high, exacerbating the heat crisis. India has witnessed a surge in heatwaves, droughts, and extreme weather events, impacting agriculture, water resources, and public health.
Rising Threats and Call for Action
Reports from World Weather Attribution and Climate Central highlight that climate change intensified 26 of the 29 extreme weather events in 2024, leading to over 3,700 deaths and displacing millions globally. India has faced severe flooding, prolonged droughts, and an increased frequency of cyclones, demonstrating the urgent need for climate adaptation measures.
The WMO and IMD stress the importance of international cooperation and immediate action to curb emissions, transition to renewable energy, and implement heat mitigation strategies. While the Paris Agreement’s long-term targets remain achievable, experts warn that delaying climate action will only worsen the crisis.
With 2025 poised to be another record-breaking year for global temperatures, India must ramp up its climate resilience efforts to protect communities, infrastructure, and ecosystems from the intensifying impact of climate change.
