The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has officially declared 2023 as the hottest year on record, with global temperatures soaring to an alarming 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. This revelation, coming with a significant margin, serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for climate action, as outlined in the Paris Agreement.
According to the WMO, the yearly average global temperature surpassed the critical 1.5-degree mark, a target set by the Paris Agreement to prevent long-term environmental damage. The confirmation underscores the accelerating pace of climate change, demanding immediate and robust efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions and transition to renewable energy sources.
Unprecedented Global Temperature Records
The WMO’s findings indicate that global temperatures in every month between June and December set new monthly records, with July and August marking the hottest months ever recorded. The annual average global temperature was determined to be 1.45 degrees Celsius higher than pre-industrial levels, consolidating data from prominent monitoring agencies worldwide.
“Climate change is the biggest challenge that humanity faces. It is affecting all of us, especially the most vulnerable,” emphasized WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo, urging swift and drastic actions to mitigate the climate crisis. Saulo highlighted the shift from the cooling effects of La Niña to the warming effects of El Niño in mid-2023, suggesting that 2024 could potentially be even hotter.
Impact on Climate Indicators
The WMO emphasized that the temperature rise is just one facet of a broader climate crisis. Since the 1980s, each decade has been progressively warmer, with the past nine years ranking as the warmest on record. Beyond temperature, other indicators, such as greenhouse gas concentrations, ocean heat and acidification, sea level, sea ice extent, and glacier mass balance, have also shattered existing records.
Severe and damaging marine heatwaves, record-low sea ice extent in Antarctica, and extreme weather events, including devastating wildfires, floods, and intense tropical cyclones, underscore the far-reaching consequences of climate change.
Global Call for Urgent Action
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres termed 2023 as a “mere preview of the catastrophic future” if immediate action is not taken. Guterres stressed the need for ambitious efforts to limit the rise in global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius and deliver climate justice.
The WMO is set to issue its final State of the Global Climate 2023 report in March 2024, providing comprehensive details on the socioeconomic impacts on food security, displacement, and health.
As the world grapples with the aftermath of 2023’s record-breaking temperatures, the urgent call for climate action has never been more pressing.
