Global warming has reached a critical turning point, surpassing the threshold warned by climate scientists. The European Union's Copernicus climate and weather monitoring service has announced that the world recently experienced the warmest 12-month period in recorded history, with temperatures exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average.
This alarming news comes as January 2024 has been declared the warmest January ever recorded globally. With temperatures 1.6 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average, it becomes the eighth consecutive month to break its own previous record. These figures follow the trend of 2023, which was declared the warmest year on record, with temperatures reaching 1.4 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average.
Significantly, this 12-month period, which includes January 2024, has now become the warmest on record, surpassing the critical threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius set by climate scientists and world leaders during the Paris climate agreement. The implications of this milestone are profound, signaling a clear direction of where our climate is heading.
Further evidence of this escalating trend can be seen in the sea surface temperatures recorded in January. A glance at the map reveals widespread red markings, indicating record warmth. The average sea surface temperature for January was 20 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous record for the month. Remarkably, only a few days into February, this record was broken once again, surpassing sea surface temperatures experienced during the extreme heat season of summer, particularly noted during an exceptional marine heat wave back in August.
The impact of these warming ocean temperatures is evident in the increased moisture in the atmosphere and the subsequent atmospheric river events. Recently, California experienced an extreme case of this phenomenon, with heavy rains causing devastating landslides in the Hollywood Hills. This event, described as historic, resulted in the destruction of numerous homes and trapped cars, emphasizing the severity and unpredictability of extreme weather events.
Expanding our scope to regions beyond the United States, Chile has also been confronting the consequences of extreme heat and drought. These conditions have fueled the worst wildfire in the country's history, resulting in thousands of homes being destroyed and the tragic loss of over 100 lives.
These alarming instances of extreme weather events highlight the urgency for action to combat global warming. They serve as a stark reminder of the consequences we face if we fail to address climate change promptly and effectively. As the world continues to experience rising temperatures, it is crucial that governments, communities, and individuals come together to implement sustainable solutions and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Only through collective action can we hope to mitigate the impacts of climate change and secure a sustainable future for generations to come.
