November 2024 records second-highest temperatures, signaling potential hottest year for Earth

November 2024 was the second-warmest on record, following 2023, according to a report from the European climate service Copernicus. This trend suggests that 2024 is likely to become the hottest year ever recorded. Global temperatures in November averaged 14.10°C (57.38°F), which is 0.14°C (0.25°F) higher than the same period last year. The report indicates that this year may be the first with an average temperature more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. The report highlights that human-caused climate change, particularly from fossil fuel use, is driving these temperature increases. The extent of Antarctic sea ice was also noted to be 10% below average, contributing to the warming trend.