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Last June, the world witnessed an unprecedented rise in temperatures, setting a new record for the thirteenth month in a row. This phenomenon, although rare, is not the first of its kind, as the world witnessed a similar series of record high temperatures during the years 2015 and 2016. According to what was stated in the daily news bulletin of the United Nations, a copy of which we received on Tuesday morning.
According to data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service, average temperatures last June exceeded the average estimated for the pre-industrial reference period (1850-1900) by 1.5 degrees Celsius. This marks the twelfth consecutive month in which the global average temperature reached or exceeded the 1.5°C threshold.
The average global temperature during the past twelve months (July 2023 - June 2024) was 1.64 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average (1850-1900). The average sea surface temperature in June 2024 at latitude 60 degrees south to 60 degrees north was 20.85 degrees Celsius, which is the highest value recorded for this month.
This is the 15th consecutive month in which the average sea surface temperature was the highest in the Copernicus data record for the relevant month of the year, according to Copernicus data.
World Meteorological Organization Secretary-General Celeste Solo said: “These latest figures from the Copernicus Climate Change Service unfortunately confirm that we will exceed the 1.5°C level temporarily and increasingly, on a monthly basis. However, it is important to stress that temporary exceedances do not mean that "The 1.5°C target has been permanently missed because it indicates long-term warming over at least two decades."
Devastating climate impacts
Under the Paris Agreement, countries agreed to hold long-term average global temperature rise to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, and make efforts to limit it to 1.5°C by the end of this century.
The scientific community has repeatedly warned that a temperature rise of more than 1.5 degrees Celsius could unleash more severe impacts of climate change and extreme weather.
Even at current levels of global warming, devastating climate impacts are already occurring. These include more severe heatwaves, rainfall, floods and droughts, the decline of ice sheets, sea ice and glaciers, and accelerated sea level rise and ocean heating.
Tropical cyclones
Celeste Solo added: “June saw widespread and long-lasting heatwaves in many countries, with major impacts on all aspects of people’s lives. This was even before the traditional peak of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, which will undoubtedly see more heat.” "Extreme heat. Record sea surface temperatures are of great concern to vital marine ecosystems, and they also provide energy to fuel tropical cyclones - as we saw with Hurricane Beryl."
In turn, Carlo Bontempo, Director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, said: “Even if this particular series of extreme events ends at some point, we are certain to see new records being broken as the climate continues to warm. This is inevitable, unless we stop.” Adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere and oceans.