2024 first year global temperatures 1.5°C hotter than pre-industrial times: scientists

But even as the costs of these disasters spiral, political will to invest in curbing emissions has waned in some countries. US president-elect Donald Trump, who takes office on January 20, has called climate change a hoax, despite the global scientific consensus that it is human-caused and will have severe consequences if not addressed.The US experienced 24 climate and weather disasters in 2024 in which the cost of damages exceeded $1bn (R18.98), including Hurricanes Milton and Helene, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.Chukwumerije Okereke, a professor of…