China has experienced its warmest year on record in 2024, marking the fourth consecutive year of record-breaking temperatures since comparable records began in 1961.
China’s average national temperature in 2024 reached 10.92 degrees Celsius (51.66 degrees Fahrenheit), making it the warmest year on record since 1961, according to the China Meteorological Administration. This marks a significant increase of 1.03 degrees from the previous year.
The China Meteorological Administration stated that the top four warmest years on record have all occurred within the past four years, with the top ten warmest years since 1961 happening in the 21st century.
Shanghai, one of China’s most densely populated cities and a major financial hub, also experienced its warmest year on record in 2024, with an average temperature of 18.8C (65.8F) according to data from the Shanghai meteorological bureau.
2014 saw China’s hottest month on record, followed by the hottest August and warmest autumn ever recorded. Guangzhou residents also endured an unusually long summer, with 240 days of temperatures above 22C (71.6F), breaking a previous record set in 1994.
The warming trend in China has led to stronger storms and increased rainfall, resulting in deadly floods and evacuations. In 2024, a highway collapse in southern China caused by heavy rain claimed 48 lives, while regions like Sichuan, Chongqing, and the Yangtze River faced heatwaves and droughts.
Greenpeace has raised concerns about China’s escalating extreme heat events, noting that the frequency and intensity of such events are on the rise. The United Nations also declared 2024 as the warmest year globally on record.
Climate change, predominantly fueled by fossil fuel emissions, is not only causing rising temperatures but also contributing to more extreme weather events due to increased heat in the atmosphere and oceans.
Insurance company Swiss Re reported that climate-related natural disasters resulted in an estimated $310 billion in economic losses in 2024.
