Global organizations have once again sounded the alarm over the ongoing climate crisis. This emerged on the eve of this year's 29th Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP29) held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan from November 11-22.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) were among those who released relevant reports, with the latter urging all stakeholders to take more action and ramp up efforts to address climate change.

Surging greenhouse gas emissions

"Greenhouse gas levels surged to a new record in 2023, committing the planet to rising temperatures for many years to come," according to reports in the WMO's annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin.

The global-average surface concentration of CO2, methane, and nitrous oxide is 151 percent, 265 percent and 125 percent of pre-industrial (before 1750) levels respectively, the report said.

Carbon dioxide is accumulating in the atmosphere faster than at any time in human history, increasing by 11.4 percent in just 20 years.

"Another year, another record," said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo, "This should set alarm bells ringing among decision-makers. These are more than just statistics. Every part per million and every fraction of a degree temperature increase has a real impact on our lives and our planet."

A new study released by the World Weather Attribution, an international scientific research organization, shows that the world's 10 most serious meteorological disasters since 2004 are all related to global warming.

In October, Spain suffered a devastating flash flood due to heavy rainfall caused by the seasonal "cold drop" phenomenon, which is officially known as DANA to Spanish meteorologists.

Jesse Neumann, professor of hydrology at the University of Reading in the UK, pointed out that the sudden floods once again warned of climate change and its unpredictable destructiveness.

Joint action needed

According to the Paris Agreement, countries will submit new nationally determined contribution targets in 2025.

The 2024 UNEP Emissions Gap Report noted that nations need to take COP29 as an opportunity to ensure that they set strong nationally determined contribution targets. Otherwise, the world will be put on course for a temperature increase of 2.6-3.1℃ this century, which would "bring debilitating impacts to people, planet and economies."

The critical moment for addressing climate change has arrived. From now, before the next round of climate commitments, we need to mobilize globally at an unprecedented scale and speed, according to Inger Andersen, UNEP executive director. "I have urged the international community to step up action on climate change and set stronger nationally determined contribution targets to strive to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius," she said.

As the largest developing country, China has been implementing a national strategy for responding to climate change.

China's Action Plan on Early Warning for Climate Change Adaptation (2025-2027) was published during COP29. In recent years, climate change has had an increasing impact globally, with frequent extreme weather events posing unprecedented challenges to the safety of people's lives and property, as well as to economic and social development. Thus, strengthening early warning systems for all and enhancing climate adaptation capacity has become increasingly important and urgent.

At COP29, China called for jointly improving global risk assessment capabilities, jointly building a global early warning network, and jointly establish a climate adaptation partnership.

Liu Zhenmin, China's climate envoy, said the nation is firmly committed to controlling methane and other non-carbon dioxide pollutants. He called for the U.S. to engage in constructive dialogue to tackle climate change in the future, and hoped cooperation on global climate action will continue to be enhanced between the world's two largest economies, according to the Financial Times.

According to Simon Stiell, UN climate chief, setting an ambitious new climate finance target is also crucial for the well-being of all nations at COP29, including the wealthiest and most powerful.