“Planet Earth Sizzles: 12 Consecutive Months Above Critical Warming Benchmark”

According to new data from the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, the world has experienced temperatures above a critical warming benchmark every month for the past year. This alarming trend has already led to devastating consequences globally, with reports of heatwave-related deaths in countries such as India, Saudi Arabia, Gaza, and the United States, as well as tourists being evacuated in Greece due to wildfires.

The average surface air temperature has been 1.5C (2.7F) hotter than the fossil fuel era for the past 12 months, exceeding the target set in the Paris Agreement to limit warming to no more than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. The global average temperature over the last year has been 1.64C above the pre-industrial average and 0.76C above the 1991-2020 average.

While these findings do not necessarily mean that the world has permanently breached the warming threshold, they do highlight the urgent need for action to address climate change. Carlo Buontempo, director of Copernicus, emphasized that the ongoing changes in the planet’s climate are significant and require immediate attention.

Bella O’Dowd, head of climate policy at WWF, stressed the importance of taking action now to mitigate the impacts of climate change. She noted that the recent temperature breach should serve as a wake-up call for governments to prioritize climate and nature conservation efforts.

In the United States, 130 million people are currently facing a long-running heatwave, breaking temperature records and fueling wildfires. Climate scientist Dr. Friederike Otto warned that there is a high likelihood that 2024 will surpass 2023 as the hottest year on record, emphasizing the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to combat climate change.

Copernicus’s data also revealed that June was the hottest on record, marking the 13th consecutive month of record-breaking temperatures globally. While some regions may have experienced cooler temperatures, the overall trend indicates a significant warming trend that must be addressed through collective action to reduce emissions and protect the planet for future generations.