Riddhi Datta

The global scientific community has perceived the “1.5 degrees Celsius” mark for decades as a distant finish line in a race we hadn’t quite started. It was a speculative line of caution, which has been discussed several times at climate change summits and has also been included in the policy documents. Today, as we wipe the sweat from our brows in summer heat, that line is firmly behind us.

By the end of 2024, we have officially crossed the 1.5°C global warming threshold. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has confirmed a mean surface temperature of 1.55°C above pre-industrial levels. While the Paris Agreement deals with the long-term averages over decades, this breach is indeed a red alert. This is the first time in documented history that our planet has sustained this level of heat for an entire calendar year. The reality is even more critical for India. As of late April 2026, India is dominating the global heat chart with 95 of the world’s 100 hottest cities mapped right here. From Akola to Jaisalmer, the temperature surge is unprecedented, rendering the region inhospitable for human survival…read more on NOPR