China has just concluded a year marked by record temperatures, part of a trend that worries scientists around the world.
Records that collapse year after year
Since 1961, China has never experienced such a rise in average temperatures. In 2024, the country recorded an average national temperature of 10.92 degrees Celsiuseither 1.03 degrees warmer than in 2023according to official data. It's not just an annual record : the last four years are all among the warmest on record since 1961. Chinese meteorologists insist: the planet is going through a critical period, with intensifying climatic consequences.
The summer of 2024 was particularly trying. Intense heat waves hit the north and west of the country, causing unprecedented temperatures and considerable damage. In Canton, in the south, the heat continued for 240 daysbreaking a decades-old record. But the toll does not stop at numbers: deadly floods have claimed the lives of dozens of people and caused significant material damage. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), these extreme phenomena are directly linked to global warming.
A colossal cost for China
The effects of climate change also result in considerable economic losses. In 2024, natural disasters caused 310 billion dollars in damage worldwideaccording to Swiss Re, a giant in the reinsurance sector. For China, this means destroyed infrastructure, compromised crops and displaced populations.
Faced with these challenges, China promises action. The government has committed to peaking its CO₂ emissions by 2030 and reaching carbon neutrality by 2060. Massive investments in renewable energy, such as solar and wind, are already underway . But will these efforts be enough to reverse the trend?
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