UN sounds ‘Red Alert’ as world smashes heat records in 2023
– Every major global climate record was broken last year, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
– The WMO’s annual State of the Global Climate report indicated that average temperatures reached 1.45 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, the highest in 174 years of record-keeping.
– Ocean temperatures were the warmest in 65 years of data, with over 90% of the seas experiencing heatwave conditions during the year.
– WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo highlighted the unprecedented ocean warmth, glacier retreat, and Antarctic sea ice loss as particularly concerning.
– Ocean heat is considered “almost irreversible,” potentially taking millennia to reverse.
– Climate change and the El Nino climate pattern were significant factors in pushing the world into record territory in 2023.
– There is a high probability that 2024 will set new heat records, particularly because the year after an El Nino is typically warmer.
– Antarctic sea ice levels saw a significant decrease, with the peak level measured at 1 million km2 below the previous record.
– The rate of sea-level rise has more than doubled over the past decade compared to the 1993-2002 period.
– Ocean heat was concentrated in the North Atlantic, with temperatures averaging 3 degrees Celsius above average in late 2023.
– Warmer ocean temperatures have affected marine ecosystems and caused many fish species to migrate north seeking cooler temperatures.
– Celeste Saulo emphasized the importance of scaling up the urgency and ambition of climate action to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
