'Ambitious climate action more urgent than ever' with 2024 the warmest year on record

This year is 'virtually certain' to be the world's hottest on record, according to the latest data from the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). Picture: Victoria Jones/PA

This will be the first calendar year that temperatures have been 1.5°C above pre-industrial times, according to a European study being released on Monday, with Irish climate experts saying this underlines the need for climate action to be a priority for the incoming government.

The latest report from the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service says it can “now confirm with virtual certainty that 2024 will be the warmest year on record”.