July 21, 2024, marked a new grim milestone in Earth’s climate history as the planet’s average surface temperature reached an unprecedented 17.09°C (62.76°F). This staggering new high, reported by the European Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), surpasses the previous record of 17.08°C set just over a year ago on July 6, 2023. The relentless climb in global temperatures underscores the accelerating pace of climate change and highlights the urgent need for action.
According to preliminary data from C3S, July 21, 2024, saw the average air surface temperature soar to 17.09°C, a mere 0.1°C higher than the previous record. While this difference might seem small, it is significantly larger than typical daily variations, emphasizing the abnormality of the current climate situation. This new record is nearly 0.3°C higher than the pre-2023 record set on August 13, 2016, at 16.8°C.
“What is truly staggering is how large the difference is between the temperature of the last 13 months and the previous temperature records,” stated C3S Director Carlo Buontempo. “We are now in truly uncharted territory, and as the climate keeps warming, we are bound to see new records being broken in future months and years.”
The record temperatures are attributed to a combination of ongoing climate change and the recent El Niño event. Although El Niño conditions ended in April, the climate emergency has continued to drive temperatures higher. Scientists predict that 2024 could overtake 2023 as the hottest year on record, underscoring the sustained impact of climate change.
As of June 2024, each of the past 13 months has been the hottest of its kind on record. Notably, June 2024 marked the 12th consecutive month where average temperatures met or exceeded 1.5°C above preindustrial levels, the most ambitious target set by the Paris Agreement.
The past decade has seen a consistent upward trend in global temperatures, with the last 10 years being the hottest on record. The difference between the highest daily average temperature in 2015 and the previous record set on August 13, 2016, was just 0.2°C. The leap from the 2016 record to 2023 and 2024, however, is about 0.3°C, highlighting the significant warming in recent years.
Since July 3, 2023, there have been 57 days that surpassed the previous record from 2016. This rapid succession of record-breaking days indicates a troubling acceleration in global temperature increases.
The new temperature records have brought with them severe weather conditions across the globe. In Western Canada, several hundred wildfires are burning out of control, exacerbated by the anomalously warm temperatures. Similarly, regions like Antarctica have experienced much-above-average temperatures, contributing to the global temperature spike.
C3S noted that Sunday’s record was driven partly by unusually high temperatures over large parts of Antarctica. Florida meteorologist Jeff Berardelli highlighted the extreme conditions, noting the significant heat anomalies in both Antarctica and Western Canada.
Scientists are unanimous in their warning: the only way to prevent further temperature increases is to rapidly phase out fossil fuels and transition to renewable energy sources. “These recurring record-breaking temperatures are a scorching red flag, but it’s not too late to reverse course,” emphasized Oceana Campaign Director Joseph Gordon.
Gordon specifically pointed out the importance of halting new offshore drilling in the United States as a critical measure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. “Offshore drilling drives climate change throughout its entire process. President Biden must permanently protect our coasts from offshore drilling and move us toward a clean energy future,” he urged.
C3S predicts that global temperatures will continue to rise in the short term, with expectations of further increases around July 22 or 23, 2024, before potentially declining. The long-term temperature trends, however, will largely depend on whether policymakers can implement ambitious measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and preserve natural carbon sinks.
While 2024 is on track to become the warmest year on record, the final ranking will depend on the development and intensity of the next phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation. The exceptional warmth of the last four months of 2023 makes it challenging to predict with certainty whether 2024 will surpass 2023 as the hottest year.
As Carlo Buontempo noted, “We are now in truly uncharted territory, and as the climate keeps warming, we are bound to see new records being broken in future months and years.” The time to act is now, before it is too late to reverse the course of climate change.
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