Global Warming on the Rise: The Hottest Years in the Past Decade

Global warming is causing average temperatures to rise due to climate change. This is leading to an increase in droughts. According to the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Copernicus Climate Change Service, the hottest year on record for the world was 2024, with temperatures observed 1.5 degrees above the average in that year. The second hottest year was 2023, with the past 10 years being recorded as the hottest years globally. The ranking of the hottest years based on the Copernicus Climate Change Service's ERA5 global assessment data is as follows: 1. 2024, 2. 2023, 3. 2016, 4. 2020, 5. 2019, 6. 2017, 7. 2015, 8. 2022, 9. 2021, 10. 2018. Professor Dr. Hüseyin Toros from Istanbul Technical University evaluated the global temperature measurements, stating that the recent years have been the hottest on record. He emphasized that the exceptionally high land and sea surface temperatures in 2024 stand out. Professor Toros highlighted that the increasing temperatures trigger droughts, putting significant pressure on water resources and impacting areas such as agricultural production and water management. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), 2024 was the first calendar year to surpass the pre-industrial era's 1.5-degree temperature limit. Professor Toros warned that urgent action is necessary to address the serious threat to the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees. He stressed that indicators of climate change such as greenhouse gas emissions, sea level rise, ocean temperature, and glacier melting are all sounding a serious alarm. Professor Toros concluded by emphasizing the need for both individuals and governments to take responsibility and work together for a sustainable future.