A Disturbing Milestone: 2023 Marks the Hottest Year in Over 100,000 Years
2023 has been confirmed as the hottest year on record, surpassing previous temperature benchmarks and nearing the critical 1.5C threshold set by the Paris Agreement. The EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that the global average air surface temperature last year reached a staggering 14.98C, an increase of 0.17C from the previous record set in 2016. This puts average temperatures at 1.48C above pre-industrial levels, alarmingly close to the 1.5C goal.
The unprecedented rise in temperatures is attributed to a combination of escalating greenhouse gas emissions and a powerful El Nino effect. These factors have not only shattered temperature records but also fueled extreme weather events throughout 2023. Carlo Buontempo, director of Copernicus, emphasized the dramatic shift from the climate conditions under which modern civilization developed.
The persistence of the El Nino effect into 2024 suggests that temperature records are likely to be broken again. Experts warn that breaching the 1.5C Paris Agreement threshold, even temporarily, is a distinct possibility in the coming months. This escalation in temperatures is expected to exacerbate weather-related disasters, such as floods and heatwaves, negatively impacting economic growth, triggering humanitarian crises, and jeopardizing food security.
Politicians and environmental activists are calling for urgent action to enhance climate resilience and address rising global emissions. Green MP Caroline Lucas described the rapid pace of temperature record-breaking as "truly terrifying," criticizing the UK government's approach, particularly Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's support for new fossil fuel extraction under the Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill. She labels this approach as a "climate crime," arguing that it threatens future generations.
Aakash Naik of Greenpeace UK also highlighted the stark contrast between the devastating impact of rising temperatures on lives globally and the record profits made by fossil fuel companies. He urged the UK government to halt the issuance of new drilling licenses and hold the fossil fuel industry accountable for its role in the climate crisis.
The record temperatures of 2023 serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for decisive climate action at both political and business levels to avert further escalation of the climate emergency.