July 2023 on Track to be Hottest Month on Record, Scientists Warn of Global Boiling
Scientists have issued a stark warning that July 2023 is on track to become the hottest month ever recorded globally. The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service and the World Meteorological Organization have confirmed that the temperatures for the first 23 days of July have already surpassed the previous record set in July 2019. They attribute the extra heat primarily to fossil fuel use.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his concern, stating that July 2023 is extremely likely to shatter records across the board unless there is a drastic change. Guterres emphasized that we are no longer in the era of global warming but have now entered the era of global boiling.
The data reveals that the average temperature for the first 23 days of July was 16.95 degrees Celsius (62.51 degrees Fahrenheit), surpassing the previous record of 16.63 degrees Celsius (61.93 degrees Fahrenheit) set in July 2019. Furthermore, July 6 broke the global temperature record, surpassing the previous record from August 13, 2016. Since July 3, each day has been hotter than any August day on record.
This news follows June’s confirmation as the hottest month ever recorded. Additionally, the climate services have reported that Earth’s temperature has temporarily exceeded the critical threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. This threshold, established by the Paris Agreement, signifies the point at which climate impacts become increasingly harmful.
Petteri Taalas, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization, emphasized that the extreme weather experienced in July is a forewarning of the future. He stressed the urgency of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, stating that climate action is no longer a luxury but a necessity.
Carlo Buontempo, director of Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), declared that based on their analysis dating back to 1940, it is extremely likely that July 2023 will be the hottest month on record. Furthermore, climate proxy data suggests that the temperatures experienced during this period are unprecedented in history and may even span back to 100,000 years.
The scorching temperatures are not limited to one region but are affecting the entire planet. Heatwaves have struck Europe, North America, and Asia, while devastating wildfires have raged in Canada and Greece. Simultaneously, South Korea, Japan, India, and Pakistan have experienced record rainfall and devastating floods.
El Niño, a weather phenomena resulting from unusually warm waters in the eastern Pacific, is exacerbating the heat. Although El Niño’s impacts are expected to peak later this year and into 2024, it has already started to elevate temperatures globally.
Scientists stress the significance of these global heat patterns, underscoring the need for urgent action to combat climate change. The situation demands a concerted effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the harmful consequences.
The world stands at a critical juncture where the impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly evident and devastating. It is crucial for individuals, communities, and governments to prioritize climate action and work towards a sustainable future. The urgency of reducing greenhouse gas emissions cannot be overstated. Only through collective actions can we hope to address the challenges of global boiling and safeguard the well-being of both people and the planet.
