July is hottest month on record, What does this mean to world?

It's official: July 2023 broke the record for the hottest month recorded on Earth, with 0.33º C more than the previous record of July 2019, the European Copernicus Observatory announced on Tuesday.

The past month was also marked by heat waves and fires across the globe, with average temperatures in the atmosphere 0.72C higher than recent July averages between 1991 and 2020.

The impact of climate change is evident through extreme weather events globally. Effects are felt in India, with monsoons becoming more deadly and flood risks increasing due to altered rainfall patterns. Urgent policy action is essential, yet global consensus on climate action remains challenging.

The alarming rise in temperature indicates a need for immediate measures. The El Niño phase may exacerbate global warming, leading to new temperature highs. Failing to achieve Paris Agreement targets raises concerns about emissions reduction efforts.

The organization reached this conclusion after the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service provided provisional data. The WMO derived this monthly average from data for the first 23 days of July.

On August 8, the entity will publish the final data on the temperature recorded during this month. But, of course, he pointed out that the recorded temperature had exceeded the previous record of 16.63 degrees registered in July 2019.

Petteri Taalas, Secretary General of the WMO, assured that "the extreme weather that has affected millions of people in July shows the harsh reality of climate change and anticipates the future." In addition, he insisted that "the need to reduce greenhouse gases is greater than ever."

Surface Air Temperature Highlights

The analysis for July 2023 has unveiled disconcerting trends in surface air temperature:

1. The global average temperature for July 2023 has shattered records, marking it as the hottest month ever recorded.
2. July 2023's temperature was 0.72°C higher than the 1991-2020 average for the same month, surpassing the previous record set in July 2019 by 0.33°C.
3. The month's temperature was estimated to be approximately 1.5°C warmer than the average temperature during the period 1850-1900.
4. Widespread heatwaves were observed across various regions in the Northern Hemisphere, including southern Europe.
5. Unusually high temperatures were observed over multiple South American countries and large portions of Antarctica.

July is hottest month on record

The entity reported that the warmest day on record was July 6, with an average temperature of 17.08 degrees. However, he warned that the temperature records held on July 3 and 23 were broken. To date, they have recorded a highest temperature of 16.8 degrees on August 13, 2016.

The WMO also warned that global average temperatures in the first and third week of July exceeded the pre-industrial levels (1850-1900) average by 1.5 degrees. Experts consider this temperature rise as the threshold limit to comply with the Paris Agreement.

These data come in the midst of a rather complex climatic situation, as the world is going through strong heat waves in North America and Asia. In China, for example, in some cities up to 52.2 degrees have been reported for one day.

So far, the hottest year ever recorded is 2016, when the average was 1.26 degrees higher than that established in the pre-industrial era. The United Nations meteorological agency predicts in light of current trends that there is a 98% chance that at least one of the next five years will be the hottest on record.

Climate scientist Zeke Hausfather at the US nonprofit Berkeley Earth used tools from Japanese and European meteorologists to estimate that the record would be broken by closer to 0.3C.

"He said, 'Unless a major asteroid impacts today, it is virtually certain that July 2023 will be the warmest month on record by a large margin. I find the magnitude of this record a bit stunning personally. Nothing analogous is seen in the historical record for the month of July.'"

Extreme weather events in July caused fatalities, infrastructure damage, and agricultural losses. Such impacts are becoming more frequent and severe, signaling an urgent need for adaptation and mitigation efforts.

Heatwaves linked to human-induced climate change

Climate scientist Joyce Kimutai at the Grantham Institute highlights the devastating impact of bigger and more frequent extreme weather events, particularly on vulnerable populations in poorer countries that bear the least responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions.

Dr Lawrence Wainwright, Departmental Lecturer and Course Director, Oxford University Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, believes, “It is clear that the prevalence and severity of heatwaves we have seen in recent years is unusual. Science tells us that the frequency, intensity and timing of heatwaves we are experiencing now are a direct result of human-induced climate change.

He added, "We are playing with fire and it is time to stop. This is also because its effect on human health is also well visible. Heatwaves cause heat-related illnesses, exacerbate symptoms in many physical and mental health conditions, worsen side effects of some medications, increase rates of hospitalizations and re-admissions, and increase suicide rates. it occurs. Heatwaves are the leading cause of death among all extreme weather events".

Next, Harvard T.H. Dr. Tess Winkel, Climate and Human Health Fellow at the Center for Climate, Health and the Global Environment at the Chan School of Public Health, says, “As an emergency physician, I routinely treat my patients for the devastating effects of extreme heat. I am doing All this is due to human induced climate change. We can stop this global phenomenon by ending our dependence on fossil fuels."

Humanity faces urgent climate crisis

U.N. Secretary-general António Guterres told a press conference on Thursday, "Humanity is in the hot seat." Guterres declared that it is a cruel summer for vast parts of North America, Asia, Africa, and Europe. He further stated that it is a disaster for the entire planet, and scientists unequivocally declare that humans are to blame.

“All this is entirely consistent with predictions and repeated warnings. The only surprise is the speed of the change. Climate change is here, it is terrifying, and it is just the beginning. The era of global warming has ended; the era of global boiling has arrived.”

Guterres urged politicians to take swift action. “The air is unbreathable, the heat is unbearable, and the level of fossil fuel profits and climate inaction is unacceptable. Leaders must lead. No more hesitancy, no more excuses, no more waiting for others to move first. There is simply no more time for that.

“It is still possible to limit global temperature rise to 1.5C and avoid the very worst of climate change but only with dramatic, immediate climate action. We have seen some progress – a robust rollout of renewables and some positive steps from sectors such as shipping – but none of this is going far enough or fast enough. Accelerating temperatures demand accelerated action.”

Hottest July: Climate change warning

The hottest month on record, July, has significant implications for the world. It signals the ongoing impact of climate change and emphasizes the urgency for immediate action to address global warming.

Rising temperatures can lead to more frequent and severe heatwaves, extreme weather events, and disruptions to ecosystems.

It places additional strain on vulnerable communities, agriculture, and water resources, and heightens the risk of wildfires and health issues. Governments, organizations, and individuals must prioritize climate mitigation and adaptation efforts to safeguard the planet's future and the well-being of current and future generations.

Urgency: Act Now for Climate

Climate scientist Friederike Otto, the lead author of the study from Imperial College London, emphasizes the urgency of adapting to the increasingly extreme summer conditions caused by climate change. She stresses that such extreme events are no longer rare and will become more frequent if fossil fuel burning continues.

Scientists attribute the expected hotter-than-usual year to the return of El Niño, a natural climate pattern that contributes to planetary heating, following three years of its cooler counterpart, La Niña. Combined with greenhouse gas pollution, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) predicts a two in three chance that one of the next five years will be 1.5C hotter than pre-Industrial Revolution levels. This aligns with the target set by world leaders to limit global heating by the end of the century, but the WMO warns that meeting this goal remains uncertain and is based on a 20-year average, not individual months or years.

Marina Romanello, a climate and health researcher at University College London and head of the Lancet Countdown, points out that climate change is already undermining global health, yet governments and companies continue to prioritize fossil fuels. She remains optimistic that there is still time to act decisively and secure a livable future for present and future generations.

Sea Surface Temperature Highlights

The sea surface temperature analysis for July 2023 underscores further concerns:

1. Global average sea surface temperatures continued to rise, reaching record high levels after an extended period of elevated temperatures since April 2023.
2. July's global average sea surface temperatures were 0.51°C above the 1991-2020 average.
3. The North Atlantic saw significant temperature anomalies, with temperatures in the northeastern and northwestern parts of the basin being notably higher than average.
4. Marine heatwaves emerged in various locations, including the Caribbean basin, Mediterranean Sea, and areas south of Greenland and in the Labrador Sea.
5. El Niño conditions persisted and developed over the equatorial eastern Pacific.

Samantha Burgess, Deputy Director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), expressed grave concerns about these findings. She emphasized that the record-setting temperatures in both air and ocean waters have severe implications for the planet and its inhabitants, leading to more frequent and intense extreme weather events. Burgess stressed the urgency of robust efforts to mitigate global greenhouse gas emissions, the driving force behind these unprecedented records.

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