The planet has reached a “shocking” new milestone, enduring 12 consecutive months of unprecedented heat, according to recent data from Copernicus, the European Union’s climate monitoring service.
Unprecedented Heat Streak
• Data Overview: Every month from June 2023 to May 2024 has been the hottest on record for those respective months.
• Temperature Increase: Each month has been at least 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer than pre-industrial levels. The average global temperature over the past year was 1.63 degrees above these levels.
• Historical Context: Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, countries aimed to limit global heating to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels over decades. This year-long breach serves as a warning of progressively more dangerous climate impacts.
UN Secretary-General’s Speech
UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a passionate speech in New York, emphasizing the urgency of the climate crisis and criticizing fossil fuel companies:
• Main Points: Guterres described fossil fuel companies as the “godfathers of climate chaos” and called for a ban on advertising their products. He urged world leaders to take decisive action to avert dangerous tipping points.
• Metaphor: “We are playing Russian roulette with our planet,” Guterres said, warning that global climate commitments are “hanging by a thread.”
• Specific Actions: He called for immediate, significant cuts in planet-warming pollution, an end to new coal projects, and substantial reductions in oil and gas usage by 2035.
Impact and Future Outlook
• Current Heat Waves: The western US is experiencing its first major heat wave of the summer, with temperatures in the triple digits. Elsewhere, extreme heat has caused deaths and severe impacts, such as school closures and crop failures.
• Global Effects: Hotter air and oceans have fueled heavier rainfall and destructive storms worldwide, from the US to Brazil and Kenya.
• Long-Term Trends: Although global temperatures are expected to drop below record levels as the El Niño phenomenon weakens, the overall trend of rising temperatures due to fossil fuel consumption is expected to continue.
Scientific and Public Health Perspectives
• Climate Expert Views: Carlo Buontempo, director of Copernicus, emphasized that these record-breaking months might seem comparatively cold if fossil fuel pollution is not drastically reduced.
• WMO Predictions: The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) forecasts an 86% chance that at least one year between 2024 and 2028 will surpass the current hottest year record. There’s also a 50% chance that global temperatures during this period will exceed the 1.5-degree threshold set by the Paris Agreement.
Fossil Fuel Companies and Policy Recommendations
• Corporate Responsibility: Guterres blamed fossil fuel companies for distorting the truth and deceiving the public about climate change.
• Policy Actions: He called for:
• A ban on fossil fuel advertising, akin to tobacco ad bans.
• Immediate cessation of new coal projects.
• Rich countries to quit coal by 2030.
• A 60% reduction in oil and gas usage by 2035.
• Increased funding for the most climate-vulnerable nations.
Conclusion
The record-breaking heat over the past year underscores the urgent need for global action to combat climate change. The UN Secretary-General’s speech highlights the critical role of policy changes and corporate accountability in addressing this crisis. Immediate and significant efforts are essential to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change and ensure a sustainable future.