2024 warmest in 175 years, climate experts fear lasting impact on Bangladesh

The year 2024 has been recorded as the warmest in the 175-year history of global temperature records, with average temperatures exceeding pre-industrial levels by more than 1.5°C, according to the "State of the Global Climate Report" released by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) today (19 March).

Scientists warn that climate change is pushing global temperatures and environmental damage to unprecedented levels, putting vulnerable nations like Bangladesh at significant risk.

Bangladeshi climate experts have voiced deep concerns over these findings, stressing that the extreme climate events of 2023-24 will have long-lasting impacts on the country. They call for urgent climate policies to mitigate further damage and protect people and ecosystems.

Dr Atiq Rahman, executive director of the Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies, said, "Despite contributing minimally to global emissions, Bangladesh is bearing the brunt of climate change. We are not receiving adequate global compensation for the losses we endure." 

He called for a shift from polluting fossil fuels to cleaner energy alternatives, emphasising the need for a homegrown climate strategy to safeguard the nation's future.

Meteorologist Abul Kalam Mallik urged Bangladesh to prioritise afforestation, water source conservation, and carbon emission reduction. 

"We must reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and adopt an integrated national policy to address climate-related issues," he stated.

The WMO report, released ahead of World Glacier Day on 21 March, World Water Day on 22 March, and World Meteorological Day on 23 March, paints a grim picture of the global climate crisis. 

It highlights that 2024 saw a record number of natural disasters, including cyclones, typhoons, and heatwaves, leading to the highest number of displacements in 16 years. These events have intensified food crises and caused massive economic losses worldwide.

The report also pointed out that every year over the past decade has ranked among the 10 warmest on record. The rising temperatures coincided with increasing sea levels, intensified ocean heatwaves, and record-high atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, it added.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres emphasised the urgency of the situation. 

"Our planet is sending distress signals. We must take effective action. There is an urgent need to develop opportunities for affordable, clean, and renewable energy for people and economies," he said in the report.

The WMO report notes that the average global temperature in 2024 was 1.6°C higher than the pre-industrial era (1850-1900), a time before large-scale fossil fuel use and the associated carbon emissions that have accelerated global warming. 

While the Paris Agreement aims to limit global temperature rise to no more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, the current trend is concerning.

WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo warned, "Although a single year surpassing 1.5°C does not violate the long-term goal of the Paris Agreement, it serves as a stark warning that we are heightening risks to our lives, economies, and the entire planet."