The streak of record global temperatures has continued for the 11th month in a row, with April 2024 being the hottest ever recorded, according to scientists. Last month was globally hotter than any previous April in records dating back to 1940, and 1.58 degrees Celsius warmer than the estimated average for pre-industrial levels.
April marks the 11th consecutive month of record high temperatures, as data released by the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service C3S shows. The global average temperature for the past 12 months, from May 2023 to April 2024, has been 1.61C above the 1850-1900 period, which is used as the benchmark for pre-industrial levels.
As temperatures soar, the world has been experiencing a large number of extreme weather events, including heatwaves, floods, droughts, and wildfires. This year, brutal heatwaves have been shattering records across Asia, with countries like Bangladesh, South Korea, and parts of India recording their hottest April. Many countries have closed schools or switched to online classes and ordered people to stay at home.
Extreme temperatures have had severe consequences, with at least 38 people in Thailand losing their lives due to the heat. Droughts have also led to the death of hundreds and thousands of fish in Vietnam, while ruins of a 300-year-old town reappeared in the Philippines amid dwindling water levels in a reservoir.
In Europe, temperatures were 1.49C above the 1990-2020 average for April, making it the second hottest on record. Average global sea surface temperatures outside the polar regions were the highest in records from 1979 for the month.
The El Nino climate phenomenon in the Pacific, which also contributes to global temperature increases, continued to weaken. However, marine air temperatures remained at unusually high levels, indicating that the human-caused climate crisis will continue to push temperatures higher.
David King, chair of the Climate Crisis Advisory Group and United Kingdom’s former chief scientific advisor, expressed concern over the continuous rise in temperatures. He emphasized the need for urgent action to reduce carbon pollution, stating that adapting to extreme heat cannot be the only solution to the crisis.
As temperatures continue to rise, the world has been experiencing a large number of extreme weather events, including heatwaves, floods, droughts, and wildfires. This year, brutal heatwaves have been breaking records across Asia, with countries like Bangladesh, South Korea, and parts of India experiencing their hottest April. Extreme temperatures have led to school closures, online classes, and orders for people to stay at home. Droughts have killed hundreds and thousands of fish in Vietnam, and ruins of a 300-year-old town reappeared in the Philippines due to dwindling water levels in a reservoir.
In Europe, which is warming the fastest on Earth due to the human-driven climate crisis, temperatures were 1.49 degrees Celsius above the 1990-2020 average for April, making it the second hottest on record. Average global sea surface temperatures outside the polar regions were also at a record high for the month of April.
The El Nino climate phenomenon in the Pacific, which also contributes to global temperature increases, continued to weaken, but marine air temperatures remained high. Carlo Buontempo, director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), stated that while El Nino is fading, the human-caused climate crisis will continue to push temperatures higher. He emphasized that the extra energy trapped in the ocean and atmosphere by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases will lead to new temperature records.
David King, chair of the Climate Crisis Advisory Group and former chief scientific advisor of the United Kingdom, expressed concern over the continuous rise in temperatures and called for urgent action to reduce carbon pollution. He emphasized that adapting to extreme heat cannot be the only solution to the crisis and that the costs of inaction will far outweigh the costs of taking action.