July 2024: Third-Warmest on Record Amid Extreme Weather Alerts

URGENT UPDATE: July 2024 has been confirmed as the third-warmest month on record, according to the latest findings from the Copernicus Climate Change Service. While global temperatures showed a slight dip compared to previous years, the impact of extreme weather events continues to threaten lives and ecosystems worldwide.

Scientists reveal that despite a marginal reduction in global average temperatures, devastating heatwaves and catastrophic flooding have persisted. “Two years after the hottest July on record, the recent streak of global temperature records is over — for now,” stated Carlo Buontempo, director of Copernicus. “But this doesn’t mean climate change has stopped. We continue to witness the effects of a warming world.”

On July 25, Turkey recorded an alarming high of 50.5 C (122.9 F), marking its hottest temperature ever as the country battled raging wildfires. This follows two consecutive years of unprecedented heat, highlighting the urgent need for action against climate change.

The average global surface temperature for July 2024 was still 1.25 C (2.25 F) above the pre-industrial baseline of 1850-1900, underscoring the ongoing crisis. Even with a relatively cooler July, the preceding 12-month period from August 2024 to July 2025 surpassed the critical threshold of 1.53 C above pre-industrial levels, exceeding the 1.5 C limit set by the 2015 Paris climate pact.

Globally, 2024 is recorded as the hottest year in history, with Europe experiencing warming at twice the global average since the 1980s, according to Copernicus data. The continent has been particularly vulnerable, as highlighted by its recent extreme weather events and rising temperatures.

Julien Nicolas, a senior scientist at Copernicus, stressed the importance of understanding this month’s temperature dip in the context of a two-year streak of alarming warmth. “It was a very exceptional streak,” he remarked, emphasizing that the long-term warming trend will continue to trigger extreme weather incidents.

As climate change accelerates, the Copernicus Climate Change Service warns that without significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, we can expect more records to be broken in the future. Deforestation, wildfires, and industrial emissions remain significant contributors to greenhouse gases that drive this crisis.

The urgency for global action has never been clearer. With reports of extreme droughts, floods, and heatwaves becoming more frequent, scientists and officials alike are calling for immediate measures to mitigate the effects of climate change.

This developing story underscores the pressing need for international cooperation to combat climate change and protect vulnerable communities around the globe. As climate patterns continue to shift dramatically, the world must remain vigilant and proactive in addressing these challenges.