2024 is set to be the hottest year on record, with global average temperatures exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, according to the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service. Extreme weather events, including droughts, floods, heatwaves, and cyclones, have devastated regions worldwide. Carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels remain the primary driver of global warming, with emissions projected to reach record highs this year despite green pledges. Scientists warn that even a potential cooling from a La Nina event in 2025 won't reverse the long-term warming trend.