Earth fever: 2023 Blazes as hottest year on record
Global temperatures in 2023 surpassed all previous records, exceeding the crucial 1.5°C threshold outlined in the Paris Agreement, as reported by BBC.
This alarming data, released by the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service, paints a sobering picture of a planet grappling with the escalating climate crisis.
"In 2023, for the first time ever, every single day was warmer than the pre-industrial level," stated Samantha Burgess, co-director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service. "It seems like this may even be the hottest year in the past 100,000 years."
The average global temperature in 2023 soared 1.48°C above pre-industrial levels, surpassing the previous record set in 2016 by a significant margin. Notably, almost every other day in 2023 was over 1.5°C warmer than the 1850-1900 period, and two days in November even breached the 2°C threshold.
These alarming figures underscore the urgency of the climate crisis. The Paris Agreement, a landmark international treaty adopted in 2015, aims to limit global warming to "well below 2°C," preferably to 1.5°C, compared to pre-industrial levels. With 2023 marking the ninth consecutive year of record-breaking heat, achieving these goals appears increasingly challenging.
Human-caused global warming and the El Niño phenomenon, a natural warming of the Pacific Ocean, were identified as the primary drivers behind the searing temperatures in 2023. Notably, persistently high sea surface temperatures, particularly in the North Atlantic, played a significant role in pushing global temperatures to unprecedented levels.
The ocean plays a critical role in regulating Earth's climate, absorbing around 90% of the excess heat generated by greenhouse gas emissions. However, with ocean temperatures setting records for over two decades, its capacity to mitigate global warming is diminishing.
The Copernicus Climate Change Service's findings serve as a stark warning, highlighting the immediate need for concerted global action to curb greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the catastrophic consequences of climate change. The future of our planet hangs in the balance, demanding a swift and decisive response.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
