2023 Anticipated as Hottest Year Ever Recorded, Climate Agency Warns
As the year 2023 approaches its end, climate data compiled by the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service reveals alarming findings – the global average temperature has already surpassed historical levels, making it "virtually certain" that 2023 will be the hottest year on record.
From January to October, the average temperatures across Earth were measured at 1.43 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average, perilously close to the 1.5-degree warming threshold that climate scientists have long warned would bring significant global challenges. Notably, this surpasses the 10-month average for 2016, currently holding the record for the warmest year.
Samantha Burgess, deputy director of Copernicus, stresses the near certainty of 2023 breaking records, stating, "...The sense of urgency for ambitious climate action going into COP28 has never been higher."
The report notes that October marked the warmest October ever recorded globally, with temperatures nearly half a degree warmer than the previous record in 2019. The heat extended beyond the atmosphere to the oceans, with Copernicus reporting the highest-ever average sea surface temperature for the month, exceeding 69 degrees Fahrenheit. This warming trend in the ocean contributes to the ongoing decline in Antarctic sea ice levels, reaching record lows for the sixth consecutive month.
A warmer ocean also serves as fuel for hurricanes, heightening the risk of natural disasters and putting more communities in harm's way. While this data paints a stark picture of the climate crisis, it aligns with earlier warnings from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which predicted the likelihood of having the hottest year within the next five years.
The continuous rise in global temperatures brings forth severe consequences, including more frequent and intense heatwaves, precipitation, and droughts. These events strain essential resources for human survival, such as energy, food, and water, and have led to areas in the U.S. becoming "uninsurable" due to heightened risks.
The release of this data precedes the United Nations' COP28 conference, where various stakeholders, including government officials, investors, and Indigenous groups, will convene to address solutions for mitigating the worst impacts of global warming. The burning of fossil fuels remains a primary contributor to this escalating crisis.
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