NEW DELHI: India witnessed a scorching 2024, breaking records as the warmest year since 1901. The average minimum temperature was 0.90°C higher than the long-term norm, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, IMD Director General, shared this at a virtual briefing, noting the annual mean land surface air temperature was 0.65°C above the 1991–2020 average.
This surpasses the previous record set in 2016, which had a mean land surface air temperature of 0.54°C above normal. The trend reflects broader global warming patterns, with India bearing the brunt of intensified heatwaves, altered rainfall, and extreme weather.
The European climate agency Copernicus highlighted that 2024 likely became the first year where global average temperatures exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels—a critical benchmark for climate action under the Paris Agreement.
A joint report by World Weather Attribution and Climate Central painted an even grimmer picture, revealing the world endured an additional 41 days of hazardous heat in 2024. This stark reality underlines the urgent need for enhanced climate resilience and adaptation measures.
India’s record-breaking heat adds to a concerning global trend of rising temperatures, attributed largely to human-induced climate change. Experts warn this could lead to worsening heatwaves, water stress, and food insecurity in coming years unless immediate and coordinated action is taken.
