2024 marked as China's warmest year since records began in 1961

2024’s climate data shows an alarming trend, with severe weather events becoming more frequent and intense.

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China has officially recorded its hottest year since reliable temperature records began in 1961, with an average national temperature of 10.92°C (51.66°F) in 2024. This marked an increase of 1.03°C compared to the previous year, making 2024 the warmest on record.

The China Meteorological Administration (CMA) reported that the top four warmest years in the country’s history have all occurred in the past four years, with every year in the 21st century occupying a place in the top ten warmest years since records began.

For Shanghai, the country’s financial hub, 2024 was its warmest year since the city began keeping meteorological records in 1873. The average temperature for the year in the town was 18.8°C (65.8°F), surpassing previous temperature records.

This continues a worrying trend of rising temperatures across the country. Last year, China also witnessed its hottest month on record (July), the hottest August, and the warmest autumn ever recorded.

Extreme heat and stronger storms

Extreme weather events, including stronger storms and higher rainfall, have accompanied the temperature surge. In 2024, devastating floods struck several regions, with thousands of people forced to evacuate and dozens of fatalities reported. In May, prolonged rainfall caused a highway collapse in southern China, killing at least 48 people. Flooding, worsened by the impact of Typhoon Gaemi, triggered widespread damage in central and south China.

For instance, the southern city of Guangzhou endured a record-breaking long summer in 2024. State media reported that temperatures remained above 22°C (71.6°F) for 240 days, breaking the previous record of 234 days set in 1994. These persistent high temperatures have become a growing concern for public health, energy consumption, and agriculture.

Agricultural and economic impact

The extreme heat has significantly impacted China's agriculture. Rice-growing regions in the south suffered heat and drought conditions during the early autumn, threatening crop yields. To safeguard food security, China has ramped up research into heat-resistant crops. At a Beijing research facility, scientists found that potatoes — a staple crop and China’s largest agricultural product — saw yields reduced by over 50% when grown in temperatures 3°C above the average.

This research is crucial, as China’s food security increasingly faces pressure from a changing climate. Other staple crops may similarly suffer reduced yields if alternatives are not found to adapt them to the warmer conditions.

Energy strain and public safety concerns

The country also faced a surge in energy consumption due to the intense heat. Power grids were pushed to their limits, particularly in major urban centres like Shanghai, as the demand for cooling systems soared. This demand further underlined the vulnerability of China's infrastructure to extreme weather events. In addition to the economic impact, there were concerns over the public health effects of the rising temperatures, especially for vulnerable populations.

A global trend of warming

2024 also marked a record-breaking year globally. The United Nations and other global bodies have confirmed that 2024 was the warmest year on record worldwide. The increased temperatures are linked to climate change, driven largely by human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and agricultural practices.

According to Greenpeace, China is seeing “alarming new trends” in extreme heat. The environmental group warned that days of extreme heat arrive earlier in the year and affect broader areas of the country, with the severity and frequency of such events increasing yearly. The compounded effects of heatwaves, floods, and storms are becoming a central concern for Chinese authorities, as they struggle to balance economic growth with environmental sustainability.

China’s climate commitments and future challenges

China is the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, and the rise in temperature directly reflects the country’s significant carbon footprint. However, the government has pledged to reach carbon neutrality by 2060, with emissions expected to peak by 2030. Despite these promises, China faces significant challenges in curbing its greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating the impacts of climate change.

In the face of rising temperatures, China increasingly focuses on climate resilience, especially in areas like agriculture, energy, and infrastructure. However, as climate change accelerates, experts warn that the country will need to take more aggressive steps to adapt to the impacts of a warming world.

With global warming expected to cause more intense weather patterns — including storms, droughts, and floods — China’s future will depend heavily on its ability to mitigate these effects and build a more sustainable and climate-resilient society. However, with the global climate crisis worsening, China is not alone in facing the growing economic, environmental, and humanitarian challenges of climate change.