THE Earth recorded its hottest ever year in 2024 and crossed the key 1.5°C threshold, scientists said today.

The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service said the climate crisis was pushing temperatures to levels never experienced by modern humans, after the world experienced the first full year in which global temperatures exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial times.

Copernicus director Carlo Buontempo said: “The trajectory is just incredible,” as he described how every month in 2024 was the warmest or second warmest for that month since records began.