Scientists reveal an alarming trend as November marks the sixth consecutive month of setting new heat records on Earth. Not only did November break heat records, but it also contributed to making 2023 a potential contender for the hottest year on record, according to the European climate agency.
The European Space Agency’s Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that November surpassed previous records by nearly a third of a degree Celsius, registering 1.75 degrees Celsius warmer than pre-industrial times. This relentless surge in temperatures underscores the unprecedented warmth the planet is experiencing.
With November averaging 14.22 degrees Celsius, a 0.85-degree Celsius rise compared to the last 30-year average, this alarming trend continues to intensify. The month even saw two days reaching 2 degrees Celsius warmer than pre-industrial levels—an unprecedented occurrence.
The Copernicus team has deemed the ongoing months as “shocking,” emphasizing the alarming speed at which temperatures are rising due to human-induced climate change.
This worrying trajectory towards extreme heat poses significant challenges to global climate goals. Despite international agreements aiming to limit global warming to 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, current projections indicate a potential warming of 2.7 to 2.9 degrees Celsius.
The presence of a potent El Nino, alongside the ongoing impact of human-driven climate change, is exacerbating this temperature surge. As a result, catastrophic weather events like floods, fires, heatwaves, and droughts continue to ravage various regions worldwide.
Scientists urge immediate action to curb reliance on fossil fuels, highlighting the imperative to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions to prevent further escalation of global temperatures. Without intervention, the trajectory indicates a future fraught with increasingly severe climate impacts.
