This year's average global temperature is expected to rival 2024's record-breaking heat, Canadian officials said Wednesday, underlining humanity's narrowing window to hit an international target intended to help avert some of climate change's most serious effects.

Jan. 10 (UPI) -- The average global surface temperature for 2024 exceeded the 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels threshold set by the Paris Agreement for the first time and was the warmest year on record, European Union climate-tracking scientists said Friday.