The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), a European Union climate monitoring agency, reported that July 21 was the global hottest day. According to preliminary data published Tuesday, the global average surface air temperature reached 17.09 degrees Celsius (62.7 degrees Fahrenheit), surpassing the previous record of 17.08 degrees Celsius set on July 6, 2023.
This unprecedented heat is part of a series of extreme weather events affecting large parts of the world. “The Earth has just experienced its warmest day,” C3S stated. The agency’s records date back to 1940.
C3S director Carlo Buontempo emphasized the significance of this record, stating, “We are now in truly uncharted territory and as the climate keeps warming, we are bound to see new records being broken in future months and years.” Buontempo noted the concerning trend of unprecedented global heat persisting over the last 13 months, with each month since June 2023 surpassing temperature records for the same period in previous years.
The continuous heatwave, particularly in the northern hemisphere’s summer, has led to widespread wildfires and extreme weather conditions. The report suggested that this recent record might soon be overtaken as temperatures climb.
Climate change is driving longer, more intense, and more frequent extreme weather events like heatwaves and floods. This year alone, deadly heatwaves have swept across North America, Mexico, Pakistan, India and Thailand. Simultaneously, floods have caused widespread devastation in East Africa, China, and Brazil.
In southern and eastern Europe, as well as in Canada and the United States, wildfires are raging due to prolonged heatwaves and dry conditions. Despite global efforts to transition to cleaner energy sources, emissions continue to rise, exacerbating global warming.
C3S noted that 2023 is on track to be the hottest year on record, with 2024 potentially continuing this trend, given the high temperatures observed so far. However, the agency cautioned that it is still “too early to predict with confidence” which year will ultimately prove to be hotter.
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