From January to November 2023, global average temperatures reached a historic high, soaring 1.46 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average.
This alarming difference brings the world perilously close to breaching the 1.5 degrees Celsius global warming threshold, a concern raised by scientists for years.
The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that 2023 witnessed six record-breaking months and two record-breaking seasons. Samantha Burgess, Copernicus deputy director, emphasized the significance of this, stating:
“The extraordinary global November temperatures, including two days warmer than 2ºC above preindustrial, mean that 2023 is the warmest year in recorded history.”
Notably, the average sea surface temperature for ocean waters between 60ºN and 60ºS, covering the region from the southern tip of Greenland to just below South America, hit a record high—approximately 0.25 degrees Celsius warmer than the previous record-breaking November in 2015.
Meteorological Perspectives
The World Meteorological Organization, a United Nations agency, reiterated this warning at the COP28 climate summit, describing the extreme conditions of 2023 as leaving a “trail of devastation and despair.”
Scientists attribute the exceptional warmth to the combined effects of El Niño and human-caused climate change.
Throughout the year, deadly heatwaves and unprecedented record-breaking temperatures have impacted continents, accompanied by a widespread blanket of unprecedented ocean heat.
Recall that Copernicus reported that the fall in the Northern Hemisphere this year was the warmest on record globally, with November being wetter than average across most of Europe, contributing to floods in regions like Italy due to Storm Ciarán.
As the temperatures continue to rise into the next year, there are concerns that the world is on a trajectory to surpass 1.5 degrees of warming on a longer-term basis. While the prolonged period of exceeding this temperature is troubling, scientists are particularly alarmed at the potential for the planet to remain above 1.5 degrees for an extended period.
COP28, where representatives from nearly 200 countries are deliberating plans to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, has elevated discussions on global temperatures.
The debate focuses on whether to “phase out” or “phase down” fossil fuels, with global temperatures being a central point of contention.
Find details of the COP28 discussions here
HOW CAN WE CURB HIGH TEMPERATURES?
Curious about the climate outlook for 2024? Stay tuned for the next post.
Culled in by Fortune Omosola
