According to the weather portal Weather.com.cn of the China Meteorological Administration, the average temperature nationwide last year reached 10.92 degrees Celsius, more than 1 degree higher than in 2023, marking the second consecutive year that the country has broken its temperature record. Statistics also show that all 10 hottest years since records began in 1961 have occurred in the 21st century.
In Shanghai, China's populous financial hub, 2024 was the hottest year on record since the Qing Dynasty. According to data released by the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau on January 1, the city's average temperature reached 18.8 degrees Celsius, the highest since Shanghai's meteorological records began in 1873.
The hot weather has not only made daily life difficult, but also had serious consequences. The heat, combined with heavy rains and strong storms, has increased electricity consumption in the world's second-largest economy. At the same time, high temperatures have negatively affected agriculture, especially in the rice-growing regions in the south of the country.
Faced with food security challenges posed by rising temperatures, China has invested in research to adapt major crops to extreme weather conditions. However, scientists warn that crop yields could fall significantly if alternatives are not found in time.
At a research facility in Beijing, scientists found that the weight of potatoes - a crop of which China is the world's top producer - dropped by more than 50 percent compared to conventional varieties when grown in an environment with temperatures 3 degrees Celsius higher than normal.
According to a United Nations report released in October, if current climate policies are not improved, the world risks facing a temperature increase of up to 3.1 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by 2100. This poses major challenges not only for China but also for the world in responding to climate change.
The year 2024 marks a stark reminder of the impact of climate change on one of the world’s most populous countries. China, together with the international community, must step up efforts to reduce emissions and promote sustainable development to ensure food security and a living environment for the future.
