The weather agency of Japan has officially declared 2024 as the hottest year since records began. The country experienced an average temperature 1.48°C higher than the 1991-2020 baseline. This marks the highest temperature spike since Japan’s weather data collection started in 1898. The previous record in 2023 showed an increase of 1.29°C.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) attributed the warming trend to the rise in greenhouse gas emissions and other global climate change factors. The agency noted that Japan’s temperatures have risen at a pace of 1.4°C per century, with significant increases from the 1990s onwards.
2024 was not only the hottest year in Japan but also worldwide. The UN’s weather and climate agency projected 2024 as the warmest year on record globally, marking the peak of a decade characterized by extreme weather events. Record-breaking heat, floods, and wildfires dominated several parts of the world, driven by rising greenhouse gas emissions.
The global surge in temperatures was in sync with the spike observed in Japan, as more intense heatwaves and extreme weather patterns took hold in regions like India, China, Brazil, and Europe.
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Kaoru Takahashi, a senior JMA official, confirmed that climate change played a major role in the rising temperatures. He highlighted the effect of the westerlies, winds traveling from west to east, which shifted further north, dragging in warmer air.
These changes caused Japan’s summer in 2024 to be the joint hottest on record, matching the record set in 2023. The autumn season also saw the highest temperatures ever recorded. Mount Fuji, renowned for its snowcapped peak, had no snow cover until early November, a delay from the usual early October appearance.
Rising temperatures are linked to an increased risk of extreme weather, including heavy rainfall. The warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, fueling powerful storms and flooding. In September 2024, severe rains led to floods and landslides in Japan’s Noto Peninsula, causing 16 fatalities. This region was still recovering from a major earthquake earlier in the year.
In November, more heavy rains prompted large-scale evacuations, affecting hundreds of thousands of residents. Furthermore these incidents underline how climate change is amplifying the frequency and intensity of natural disasters in Japan.
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The link between climate change and greenhouse gas emissions is clear. The World Meteorological Organization reported that global emissions reached new highs in 2024, ensuring that more heat would be locked in for the future.
Japan’s reliance on fossil fuels is a significant factor in its carbon footprint. It has the dirtiest energy mix in the G7 nations, with nearly 70% of its energy coming from fossil fuels in 2023. Japan has committed to reducing emissions by 46% by 2030, compared to 2013 levels, and aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. However, this will require a major shift in its energy policies.
Japan’s government has unveiled new plans to increase the share of renewable energy in the country’s power mix. By 2040, renewables are projected to account for 40-50% of the country’s electricity, a sharp rise from the current 23%. Moreover this shift is essential for Japan to meet its climate goals and reduce its carbon emissions.
As 2024’s heat records are shattered, Japan and the world are reminded of the urgent need to tackle climate change. Climate change is no longer a distant concern – it’s happening now, and its impacts are felt around the globe.
