November 2024 records second-highest temperatures, signaling potential hottest year for Earth
November 2024 was the second-warmest on record, following 2023, according to the Copernicus climate report. This trend suggests that 2024 may become the hottest year ever recorded, with global temperatures averaging 14.10°C (57.38°F). The report highlights that this year could be the first with an average temperature more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The previous record heat was influenced by human-caused climate change and an El Niño event, which has since ended. Experts note that the ongoing high temperatures are unusual, as a cooling effect typically follows El Niño. The lack of this cooling has raised concerns about the accelerating pace of global warming and its impact on ecosystems and food supply chains.