2023 Set to Be Hottest Year on Record, Scientists Warn
Scientists have issued a warning that 2023 is on track to become the hottest year ever recorded. This comes after an exceptionally hot summer and September, which saw extremely high temperatures.
The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) of the European Union revealed that global average temperatures from January to September this year were 1.4 degrees Celsius higher than the preindustrial period of 1850 to 1900. Compared to the average, this was over 0.5 degrees Celsius higher and 0.05 degrees Celsius higher than the same period in 2016, which is currently the hottest year on record.
September specifically experienced the largest temperature anomalies since 1940, with the entire month being a staggering 1.75 degrees Celsius warmer than the preindustrial reference period. One researcher described these findings as “absolutely gobsmackingly bananas.”
The climate crisis, fueled by the burning of fossil fuels, is the primary driver behind the extreme heat being observed. Samantha Burgess, deputy director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, stated that the unprecedented temperatures in September have pushed 2023 into the position of being the warmest year, surpassing preindustrial average temperatures by around 1.4°C.
With the COP28 climate conference just two months away, Burgess emphasized the urgent need for ambitious climate action.
World leaders will gather in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from November 30 to December 12 to discuss how to address the worsening climate crisis.
The World is Facing Dire Consequences
A recent major U.N. report confirmed that the world is not on track to meet the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. The report highlighted that the world has already warmed by approximately 1.1 degrees Celsius due to the burning of fossil fuels and unsustainable energy and land use practices.
This increase in temperature is causing a series of extreme weather events worldwide. In Europe, September 2023 was the warmest September ever recorded, surpassing the 1991-2020 average by over 2.5 degrees Celsius and September 2020 by 1.1 degrees Celsius.
The Copernicus Climate Change Service also noted the development of El Niño conditions in the equatorial eastern Pacific. El Niño is a natural climate pattern that contributes to higher temperatures globally. The U.N. weather agency declared the onset of El Niño on July 4 and warned of a likely spike in global temperatures and extreme weather conditions.
Pope Francis recently expressed concern that the world is collapsing and may be reaching a breaking point. His comments echo those of U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, who described the current situation as humanity having opened the gates to hell. Guterres highlighted the devastating effects of extreme heat, including floods, disease outbreaks, and historic fires.