Months later expectationIt is now official that 2023 will be the hottest year ever recorded. The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service announced the milestone after analyzing data showing the world saw its warmest November ever.
Copernicus said last month was roughly 1.75 degrees Celsius warmer than the pre-industrial average, with an average surface air temperature of 14.22 degrees Celsius, or about 57.6 degrees Fahrenheit. And now Copernicus says global average temperatures from January to November 2023 are the highest on record, 1.46 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average.
With temperatures 0.88 degrees Celsius above average, northern autumn from September to November is also the warmest overall “by a large margin,” Copernicus said. In September he reported: Summer 2023 was the hottest on record.
“There have been six record months and two record seasons in 2023,” said Samantha Burgess, associate director of Copernicus. “Extraordinary global November temperatures, including November temperatures two days warmer than pre-industrial times, mean 2023 is the warmest year in recorded history.”
This difference between pre-industrial times and today brings the world dangerously close to exceeding the 1.5 degrees Celsius global warming threshold that scientists have been warning about for years. Continued warming means extreme weather events. it has already gotten worse – will become more frequent and intenseDamage and loss of life from droughts, floods, hurricanes and forest fires are increasing.
Last month, not only the weather but also the water was warmer.
Copernicus found that the average sea surface temperature for ocean waters between 60°N and 60°S (roughly between the southern tip of Greenland and just below the bottom of South America) was the warmest on record, about 0.25 degrees higher than the last record-breaking one in November 2015. He said it was degrees Celsius warmer. .
Copernicus warned of this outcome last month, saying the title of hottest year would be “almost certain“
The World Meteorological Organization, an agency of the United Nations, reiterated the warning in the UN. COP28 climate summit Just a few days ago, he said that the extreme conditions experienced this year had “left a trail of devastation and despair.”
The WMO also released a report on Tuesday saying the rate of climate change is “alarmingly increasing” and that 2011-2020 was the hottest decade in history.
Emissions reduction efforts at COP28 — but how soon?
Global temperatures are an important topic of debate COP28 meeting in dubaiIt will last until December 12. Greenhouse gases include: carbon dioxide And methane among others: gases that trap heat Rising air temperatures and melting of sea ice in Earth’s atmosphere subsequently cause ocean temperatures to warm and sea levels to rise. Most emissions of these gases is caused by the burning of fossil fuelsThese include coal, natural gas and oil.
Carlo Buontempo, director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, said the extreme temperatures seen this year will only continue unless serious changes are made quickly.
“As long as greenhouse gas concentrations continue to increase, we cannot expect results different from those seen this year,” Buontempo said. said. “Temperatures will continue to rise, and so will the impacts of heatwaves and droughts. Reaching net zero as quickly as possible is an effective way to manage our climate risks.”
Switching from burning oil and coal to sources such as wind and solar energy is an important step to reduce emissions, scientists say. A study published in 2022 found that for every 1 percentage point increase in renewable energy consumption, CO2 emissions per capita would decrease by 1.25%. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory, part of the U.S. Department of Energy, also found that adding 35% more wind and solar power would reduce carbon emissions by 25% to 45%.
Steps have been taken to expand renewable energy worldwide. USA this year only More electricity produced from solar and wind In a record period of 5 months, more than was obtained from coal and England produced more power For the first time in its history, with wind rather than gas. However, many countries, including the USA, are still far behind on commitments to make significant changes.
At COP28, representatives from nearly 200 countries are discussing plans to transition from fossil fuels to fossil fuels. renewable energy. The big debate is whether to agree to “phase out” or “phase out” fossil fuels; The second would be a slower, weaker global stance on transition.
“If you’re digging a hole and you’re digging too deep and you’re not going where you want to go, the first thing you do is stop digging,” US climate envoy John Kerry said at COP28. “And the equivalent of stopping digging into this climate issue is stopping the release of these toxic gases that are destroying the planet, the lives of future generations, and our own ability to live. … We’re actually asking you to embrace a better approach to quality of life.”
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