Will 2024 Break Record As The Hottest Year In History?

By Patrick Obia

In the face of scorching temperatures across Nigeria, there are growing concerns that 2024 might set a new record as the hottest year in history. Much like the economy, the persistent heat has become a central topic of public discourse, underscoring the severe impact of climate change on the nation.

According to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), temperatures have soared to 41°C in the northern regions and 39°C in the south, with forecasts indicating that the heatwave is set to persist in the weeks ahead. NIMET has raised alarm bells over potential health risks, including increased dehydration leading to weakness, skin diseases, respiratory disorders, and loss of consciousness.

The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that by 2050, climate change could result in approximately 250,000 deaths annually from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and heat stress alone. The direct health-related costs are estimated to range between US$2 and 4 billion annually by 2030.

Areas with fragile health infrastructure, particularly in developing countries, are expected to be the least equipped to cope with the destructive effects, emphasizing the need for international assistance.

Climate analysts are sounding the alarm that human-induced climate change may propel 2024 into the record books as the hottest year on record, continuing a worrying trend from preceding years. Tackling this crisis, they argue, necessitates a concerted effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, involving a drastic cut in fossil fuel extraction.

Ken Henshaw, Executive Director of We the People, while speaking with Prime Progress, said “Since 2012, every year has been the hottest year in history. We have been hitting record temperatures every single year. 2022 was the hottest year in history, now 2023 has become the hottest, and it is likely 2024 will be the hottest in history. What this means is that, on account of climate change, every year is becoming hotter and hotter. That is a real danger we should all be worried about.”

Understanding The Heatwave

Ken Henshaw, also an environmental activist, explained that a heatwave is an extreme period of abnormally hot temperatures lasting for days, weeks, or months. He emphasized that the recent wave in Nigeria is caused by two major climate phenomena, El Niño and La Niña, with El Niño being a significant factor in the current heatwave.

Ntufam Professor Raphael Offiong, a lecturer in the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Science at the University of Calabar, attributes the recent heatwave to the depletion of the ozone layer resulting from human activities.

Climate Change Connection

Ken further highlights that climate change, induced by greenhouse gas emissions and human activities like fossil fuel burning, is causing the heatwave and altering weather patterns. He pointed to activities such as crude oil extraction, wood logging, and indiscriminate felling of trees as contributors to environmental degradation.

To mitigate the negative impacts of climate change, Ken suggests putting an end to fossil fuel extraction. Recognizing the challenge of such a decision, he stresses its necessity to secure the future: “If you want to stop climate change, then you have to stop the extraction of fossil fuel; you need to cut down its usage, and you need to have a clear-cut road map at least between now and the next ten years.”

Urgent Call To Action

Professor Raphael and Ken warn that, without collective efforts to combat climate change, mankind faces the threat of extinction. They urge Nigerians to join the fight against climate change and advocate for the end of activities that contribute to it.

Despite their efforts, they express concern that powerful individuals and state actors benefiting from climate activities are undermining their campaigns. Ken emphasizes, “Nigerians need to join the fight to recover our environment from the impact of climate change and also join the fight against crude oil extraction.”

As the battle against climate change intensifies, they acknowledge that the fight has come late, with the impacts already affecting both humans and the environment. Ken concludes, “The reality is that CSOs are doing a lot, but we face stiff resistance from public interest and corporate power insistent on continuing fossil fuel extraction.”