Data from Chinese meteorological sources indicates that 2024 was the warmest year for the country since record-keeping began over sixty years ago, marking the second consecutive year in which new temperature milestones were set.
The national average temperature reached 10.92°C last year, which is over 1°C higher than in 2023, according to weather.com.cn, a platform operated by the China Meteorological Administration.
All of the 10 hottest years recorded since 1961 occurred in the 21st century, the portal noted.
For Shanghai, China’s financial center, 2024 was the warmest year since the Qing dynasty, as reported by the Shanghai meteorological bureau.
The warmer weather observed last year, along with more intense storms and increased rainfall, resulted in elevated power consumption in the world’s second-largest economy.
Intense heat also had an impact on agriculture in various regions, including the rice-producing southern areas.
In response to the challenges posed by rising temperatures, China has initiated research aimed at making staple crops more resilient to heat.
Experts warn that crop yields may decline if effective alternatives are not developed.
Researchers at a facility in Beijing discovered that potatoes, which China produces in the largest quantities globally, exhibited weights less than 50% of standard varieties when cultivated in conditions set at 3°C above normal.
A United Nations report released in October warns that if current climate policies remain unchanged, the world could experience a temperature increase of up to 3.1°C above pre-industrial levels by 2100.
