The planet experienced its hottest June on record, followed by the hottest July (2024)

The world just experienced the hottest summer on record. June to August scorched with temperatures above the 1990 to 2020 average, beating the previous record set in 2019 by nearly 0.3 degrees Celsius. This summer's global average temperature of 16.77 degrees Celsius marks a significant rise. Typically these records, which track the average air temperature across the entire world, are broken by only hundredths of a degree.

This blistering summer was not confined to one region; it impacted the Northern Hemisphere from the United States to Europe and Japan, with record-breaking heatwaves and unprecedented ocean temperatures. July and August were approximately 1.5 degrees warmer than pre-industrial levels, a threshold that climate scientists have long warned not to breach.

The consequences are alarming: devastating wildfires, health risks, disrupted daily lives, and lasting environmental damage. As UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasizes, our climate is imploding, and extreme weather events are affecting every corner of the planet. This record-breaking summer serves as only a preview of what's to come with 1.5 degrees of warming.

The global community must act urgently to curb greenhouse gas emissions and address the climate crisis by taking climate resilience measures. The signs are clear; we're heading into uncharted territory, and the consequences will be severe if we don't change course now. We need sustainable (technological) solutions, clean energy and collective action to protect our planet and future generations.

Read more over at CNN: https://lnkd.in/g9Bbccmm