7 Key Takeaways: 2024 State of the Climate Report

"Climate change could eventually contribute to societal collapse—a possibility that is increasingly being considered by researchers"

The 2024 State of the Climate Report was released October 8th. This is a must read for anyone who cares for the condition of our planet. The outlook is dire. Humanity is failing on numerous measures.

This report is authored by William J. Ripple, Christopher Wolf , Jillian W. Gregg, Johan Rockström, Michael E. Mann, Naomi Oreskes, Timothy M. Lenton, Stefan Rahmstorf, Thomas M. Newsome, Chi Xu, Jens-Christian Svenning , Cássio Cardoso Pereira , Beverly E. Law and Thomas W. Crowther.

"We are on the brink of an irreversible climate disaster. This is a global emergency beyond any doubt. Much of the very fabric of life on Earth is imperiled. We are stepping into a critical and unpredictable new phase of the climate crisis."

Below I've summarized 7 key findings from the report:

1. Record-breaking Temperatures and Sea Surface Anomalies (Page 3) In 2023, both global and North Atlantic sea surface temperatures significantly exceeded the 1991-2024 averages. These anomalies persisted well into 2024, highlighting the increasing intensity of climate change impacts. The report emphasizes, "Daily mean temperatures were at record levels for nearly half of 2023 and much of 2024." The consistent breaking of records is a stark indicator of the deteriorating climate, and the authors warn that, "On our current emissions trajectory, we may regularly surpass current temperature records in future years."
2. Escalating Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Page 5) Greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase. In 2023, global energy-related emissions rose by 2.1%, reaching more than 40 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent for the first time. This increase is primarily driven by fossil fuel combustion, with the top three emitting countries—China, the United States, and India—together accounting for over half of global emissions. The report also points out that aerosol pollutants, which have a cooling effect on the atmosphere, are in decline, potentially accelerating warming. The authors lament, "Tragically, we are failing to avoid serious impacts, and we can now only hope to limit the extent of the damage."
3. Extreme Weather Events Increasing in Frequency (Pages 7-8) The report provides a grim account of the rising frequency and intensity of extreme weather events from late 2023 through mid-2024. These include the record-breaking heatwave that swept across North Africa and the Sahel, causing potentially thousands of deaths, and widespread flooding in East Africa, affecting more than 700,000 people. In February 2024, Chile experienced severe wildfires that destroyed over 14,000 homes. The report links these events directly to climate change, stating that "climate change likely contributed to these fires by increasing the frequency and intensity of droughts and heatwaves." The cascading effects of these disasters not only devastate communities but also highlight the urgent need for adaptive climate policies.
4. Ocean Heat and Ice Melting (Page 10) Ocean conditions are worsening, with both ocean heat content and acidity at record levels. These extremes have led to significant impacts on marine life, including mass mortality events among marine species, such as coral reefs. Additionally, Greenland and Antarctica's ice masses, along with average glacier thickness, reached record lows, contributing to a rise in average global sea levels. The report attributes these changes to both global warming and a strong El Niño event in 2023 and early 2024. It warns that continued sea-level rise could displace "hundreds of millions of people over the course of the century," highlighting the long-term risks posed by melting ice and rising oceans.
5. The Human Cost of Climate Change (Page 12) The human impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly severe, as extreme weather events lead to greater loss of life and suffering. Heat-related deaths increased by 117% from 1999 to 2023 in the United States alone. The report states, "Heatwaves of this magnitude likely could not have occurred in the absence of climate change." The increase in extreme heat has also led to a rise in heat-related illnesses and has exacerbated healthcare burdens, especially for vulnerable populations. The authors emphasize that each additional 0.1°C of global warming places an estimated 100 million people at increased risk of health and livelihood challenges.
6. Deforestation and Tree Cover Loss (Page 14) The rate of global deforestation is accelerating, with tree cover loss increasing from 22.8 million hectares in 2022 to 28.3 million hectares in 2023. This spike was largely driven by record-breaking wildfires, which caused an unprecedented loss of 11.9 million hectares of forest cover. Such deforestation contributes to positive feedback loops—where the loss of forest carbon sequestration leads to additional warming, driving further losses in forest cover. However, there was a positive development in the Amazon, where deforestation rates declined from 1.16 million hectares in 2022 to 0.90 million hectares in 2023, thanks in part to the changing policies of Brazil's government.
7. Amplifying Feedback Loops and Tipping Points (Page 17) One of the most concerning findings of the report is the potential for amplifying feedback loops and climate tipping points. Feedback loops, such as permafrost thawing, are processes that, once initiated, may accelerate further warming in a self-perpetuating cycle. The report identifies at least 28 feedback loops that are contributing to climate change, including methane release from melting permafrost and shrinking ice cover. The authors argue, "Because these feedback loops are not yet fully integrated into climate models, current emissions reduction plans might fall short in adequately limiting future warming." Moreover, tipping points—such as the collapse of the Greenland ice sheet—could lead to catastrophic and irreversible changes in the Earth system if crossed.

Read the full report here.

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Thanks,

Sarah