Fact Check: "2024 was the hottest year on record, hitting 1.5C for the first time!"
What We Know
According to multiple authoritative sources, 2024 has indeed been confirmed as the warmest year on record since global temperature records began in 1850. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that the global average surface temperature in 2024 was approximately 2.32°F (1.29°C) above the 20th-century average, surpassing the previous record set in 2023 (NOAA). Similarly, NASA confirmed that 2024's average temperature was about 2.30°F (1.28°C) above its 20th-century baseline (NASA).
Notably, for more than half of 2024, average temperatures were reported to be above 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial levels (1850-1900), and some estimates suggest that the annual average may have exceeded this threshold for the first time (NASA). The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) also corroborated this, stating that 2024 was the warmest year on record, with temperatures reaching about 1.55°C above pre-industrial levels (WMO).
Analysis
The claim that "2024 was the hottest year on record, hitting 1.5C for the first time" is partially true. While it is accurate that 2024 has been confirmed as the warmest year on record, the assertion that it "hit 1.5C" requires clarification. The average temperature for the year did not consistently remain at or above 1.5°C; rather, it is reported that for more than half of the year, temperatures were above this threshold (NASA).
The reliability of the sources is strong, as both NOAA and NASA are reputable scientific organizations that utilize extensive datasets and rigorous methodologies to analyze global temperatures. Their findings are corroborated by independent research groups and peer-reviewed studies, which consistently show an upward trend in global temperatures (NOAA, NASA).
However, the interpretation of reaching or exceeding 1.5°C can be nuanced. The Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to well below 2°C, with efforts to keep it below 1.5°C. The fact that 2024 may have been the first year to average above this level, even if only for part of the year, highlights the urgency of climate action but does not mean that the entire year was above this critical threshold (NASA, WMO).
Conclusion
The verdict on the claim is Partially True. While 2024 is indeed confirmed as the hottest year on record, the assertion that it "hit 1.5C for the first time" is misleading without context. The year experienced temperatures above this level for a significant portion, but it is not accurate to state that the entire year averaged at or above 1.5°C.
Sources
- Climate change: global temperature
- NASA Confirms 2024 Warmest Year on Record
- 2024 was the world's warmest year on record
- A year above 1.5 °C signals that Earth is most probably ...
- WMO confirms 2024 as warmest year on record at about ...
- 2024 is the first year to exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial ...
