Climate Crisis Red Alert: Hottest Year on Record
The World Meteorological Organization, under the auspices of the United Nations, has issued a red alert for the climate.
This follows the organisation's latest report, which reveals we are on the brink of collapse. The year 2023 witnessed unprecedented records in ocean temperatures, sea level rise, and glacier retreat. In fact, last year concluded the hottest decade in recorded history.
According to the World Meteorological Organization, average temperatures have reached their highest level in the 174 years of record-keeping. The year 2023 was the hottest in history, with an average global surface temperature increase of 1.45 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
"2023 set new records for every climate indicator. This annual report shows that the climate crisis is the defining challenge facing humanity, closely linked to the crises of inequality, growing food insecurity, population migration, and biodiversity loss. Glacier retreat has reached record levels, and given that glaciers are the largest freshwater resources, we should note that the reduction of sea ice in Antarctica was one of the key climate events recorded in 2023," states Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General, WMO.
Last year, almost a third of the world's ocean surface was affected by marine heatwaves, with over 90% of oceans experiencing the effects. A major concern is the rate of sea level rise in the last decade, almost double that recorded between 1993 and 2003.
"The last nine years, from 2015 to 2023, are the warmest on record. The decade 2014-2023 is also the warmest ever recorded. This demonstrates the accelerating and continuing trend of global warming. The most important extreme events we are concerned with are heat-related and extreme precipitation, as these directly affect people's lives and have a significant socio-economic impact," says Omar Baddour, Department Head, WMO.
There is some positive news: renewable energy production in 2023 increased by almost 50% compared to the previous year, marking the most significant growth rate in the last 20 years.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
