Recently, the Earth experienced its hottest three months on record. According to the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service, the global average temperature reached a staggering 16.77°C in June, July and August, about 0.3°C higher than the 2019 record.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed concern about the phenomenon in a statement, saying: "The climate is rapidly deteriorating, we cannot cope with the extreme weather events that hit every corner of the planet, and action must be taken to cope with rising temperatures." ”
Not long ago, we had the hottest August since 1940, which is also the second hottest month after July this year. More worryingly, ocean temperatures have also reached new highs, with average ocean temperatures reaching 20.98°C in August, the highest on record.
Temperatures in July and August are estimated to be 1.5°C above pre-industrial averages, a warming that has reached the upper limit of the Paris Agreement.
So far, average temperatures this year are just 0.01°C cooler than the hottest record set in 2016, and El Niño in the eastern Pacific is expected to continue to push global temperatures higher.
This summer, the northern hemisphere was hit by an unprecedented heat wave, with Greece experiencing the largest wildfires ever recorded in the European Union, with temperatures as high as 47°C at one point and an estimated loss of thousands of lives. At the same time, the United States also set a high temperature record, with more than 60 million people receiving high temperature alerts. Temperatures in Asia are even more astonishingly high, with China recording the highest temperature on record at 52.2°C.
Just after winter in the Southern Hemisphere, Antarctic sea ice extent fell by 12% from average, the lowest level in history.
Samantha Burgess of the Copernicus Climate Change Service noted: "2023 could be the hottest year humanity has ever experienced. Global warming means that more frequent extreme events such as heat waves, wildfires and floods will have a greater impact. The summer we've just had may just be one of the cooler ones for the next decade. "This warning reminds us once again that climate change has become a global challenge that we cannot ignore, and that action is urgently needed to mitigate its impact.
To address this global climate crisis, countries need to step up their efforts to meet their commitments under the Paris Agreement, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote renewable energy, and strengthen preparedness and response to extreme weather events. In addition, each of us can also contribute to climate change mitigation, such as reducing carbon footprint, reducing waste and promoting sustainable lifestyles.
Only by taking collective action on a global scale can we hope to slow the tide of climate change and create a better living environment for the future of the planet and the next generation. We must realize that the heat of the earth is not just a weather phenomenon, but a serious warning that awakens our conscience and urges us to take action to protect our homes together.
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