In 2023, Earth shattered global annual heat records, coming exceptionally close to the 1.5-degree Celsius threshold set in the Paris climate agreement. Copernicus, the European climate agency, revealed that the year was 1.48 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, just under the critical limit agreed upon in the climate accord. Moreover, projections indicate that January 2024 might be warm enough to surpass the 1.5-degree threshold for the first time in a 12-month period.
The intense heat in 2023 led to devastating effects globally, from Europe and North America to China. Extreme weather events like prolonged droughts in the Horn of Africa, destructive downpours in Libya, and wildfires in Canada were all linked to a warming climate. The pressing need to transition away from fossil fuels, acknowledged by nations during the UN climate talks, remains a crucial yet unfulfilled imperative.
Greenhouse gas emissions, primarily from burning coal, oil, and natural gas, are the predominant factor driving Earth’s escalating temperatures. While natural phenomena like El Nino and volcanic eruptions contributed, the bulk of the warming—around 1.3 degrees Celsius—stems from greenhouse gases.
The records for 2023 are set to be confirmed by various agencies, including NOAA, NASA, and the UK’s Meteorological Office, with expectations of breaking previous marks. Copernicus’ data, dating back to 1940, mirrors estimations from other agencies indicating record-breaking warmth.
Experts, based on evidence from ice cores and tree rings, suggest that this warming trend marks Earth’s hottest period in over 100,000 years, possibly reaching temperatures unseen in about 125,000 years.
The gravity of these findings is underscored by unprecedented occurrences: days where global temperatures averaged more than 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, repeated incidents of every day in the year being at least 1 degree Celsius warmer, and nearly half the year registering temperatures 1.5 degrees higher than the mid-1800s.
While concerns arise about meeting the 1.5-degree target, climate scientists emphasize the necessity of redoubling efforts to mitigate further warming. The urgency lies not in abandoning the goal but in intensifying actions to curb the escalating climate crisis.