2024 has been designated as the hottest year on record, and for the first time, passing the stated “point of no return” for irreversible climate change.

The figures are in and 2024 was the hottest year ever recorded for Chicago, for the U.S., and across the globe. The eight warmest years for the U.S. have all occurred since 2012.

Meteorological associations have reported 2024 as the hottest year on record since humans started keeping track. Scientists say this likely puts Earth at greater risk of more extreme heat waves, hurricanes and significant loss of biodiversity.

Earth recorded its hottest year on record in 2024, with such a big jump that the planet temporarily passed a major climate threshold, weather monitoring agencies announced Friday.

Earth experienced its hottest year on record, surpassing previous highs with an average temperature 1.28 degrees Celsius above the 20th-century norm. This historical peak is a stark reminder of the urgent need to understand and mitigate our impact on the planet,

It's official: 2024 was the planet's warmest year on record, according to an analysis by scientists from NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).