Earth’s temperature continues to climb as leaders pivot away from climate initiatives

Earth’s average temperature is now 1.6 C above its pre-industrial average, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, which reports 2024 was the warmest year ever recorded.

This new record exceeds the threshold set by the Paris Agreement—a legally binding international treaty on climate change signed in 2016—and coincides with unprecedented wildfires that have destroyed large swaths of Los Angeles, America’s second-largest city.

New records were also set for greenhouse gas levels and sea surface temperature last year, contributing to extreme events such as floods, heat waves, and hurricanes.

This comes at a time when many prominent politicians and business leaders are eschewing climate action.

Canada’s upcoming federal election is expected to prominently feature the Liberal government’s so-called carbon tax, which opposition leader Pierre Poilievre plans to eliminate if elected Prime Minister.

Former B.C. premier Christy Clark, who is currently eyeing the Liberal leadership race, said she too would scrap the climate initiative introduced by Justin Trudeau’s government if elected.

South of the border, U.S. president-elect Donald Trump has summed up his energy strategy with the phrase, “Drill, baby, drill.”