Scientists have warned that 2023 is set to be the hottest year on record, following an exceptionally hot summer and record-breaking September temperatures.
According to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), global average temperatures from January to September were 1.4°C higher than the preindustrial period of 1850 to 1900. This marks an increase of over 0.5°C above average and surpasses the previous hottest year, 2016, by 0.05°C.
September, in particular, experienced unprecedented temperature anomalies, averaging 1.75°C above the preindustrial average. C3S researchers described these findings as “absolutely gobsmackingly bananas,” highlighting the extreme nature of the heat.
El Niño conditions and a record-breaking summer highlight the urgent need for global climate action as world leaders prepare for COP28 in Dubai this November.Samantha Burgess, deputy director of C3S, noted that September’s temperatures have pushed 2023 into the lead as the warmest year recorded, stressing the critical need for urgent climate action.
Two months before the COP28 climate conference in Dubai, Burgess emphasized the heightened urgency for ambitious climate measures. The global community will meet from November 30 to December 12 to discuss strategies to combat the worsening climate crisis.
A recent U.N. report confirmed that the world is not on track to meet the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C above preindustrial levels. Current warming, driven by fossil fuel use and unsustainable practices, has already reached approximately 1.1°C. This rise contributes to severe weather events globally.
In Europe, September 2023 was the hottest on record, exceeding previous highs by over 2.5°C. Additionally, ongoing El Niño conditions are expected to further amplify global temperatures and extreme weather.
Both Pope Francis and U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres have warned of the dire consequences of climate change, urging immediate and significant action to address the crisis.