According to a NASA analysis, the year 2023 marked the warmest temperatures on record.

Global temperatures for that year surpassed the average during NASA’s baseline period (1951-1980) by approximately 2.1 degrees Fahrenheit (1.2 degrees Celsius), as indicated by scientists from NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York.

While scientists have established that human activity is the primary driver of the planet’s long-term warming trend, they continue to investigate other factors that may influence climate variations on a yearly or multi-year basis, including El Niño events, aerosols and pollution, and volcanic eruptions.

According to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, “February 2024 was the hottest February according to records that stretch back to 1940.”

A critical observation echoed by NASA, which confirmed that the average surface temperature last year was significantly elevated, with “each month from June through December [setting] a global record for the respective month.” July was notably marked as the hottest month ever recorded.

“At this point, if we consider the long-range forecast for the upcoming three months, it indicates that the trend of baseline warming could persist, potentially leading to 2024 matching 2023 as one of the warmest years on record. This prospect is quite concerning,” mentioned Chloe Brimicombe, a heatwave researcher at the University of Graz.

These soaring temperatures are not isolated anomalies but are part of an established warming pattern with the “last 10 years [being] the warmest on record,” as emphasized by NASA’s research.

The escalation in average temperatures is rapidly steering us towards surpassing the vital 1.5-degree Celsius rise above preindustrial levels—a threshold beyond which the planet may incur irreversible damage.

The stark reality of the situation was aptly summarized by Gavin Schmidt, director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, who articulated, “The exceptional warming that we’re experiencing is not something we’ve seen before in human history. It’s driven primarily by our fossil fuel emissions, and we’re seeing the impacts in heat waves, intense rainfall, and coastal flooding.”

Notably, the impact of climate change is not homogeneously distributed.

Vulnerable populations, including economically disadvantaged and minority groups, bear a disproportionate burden.

Heat researchers are “extremely concerned about people who live in housing not resistant to warm temperatures,” a sentiment echoed by Chloe Brimicombe, a heatwave researcher at the University of Graz.

In light of these developments, the US has been proactively formulating strategies to mitigate the effects of extreme weather. The establishment of a new National Climate Resilience Framework in September 2023 marked a significant stride towards building infrastructure that can weather the tempestuous conditions anticipated in the future.

Adaptation to this new climate reality is crucial. While advancements in attribution science have made it possible to “confidently point to a heatwave we’ve experienced and say whether climate change played a role in making it happen,” as clarified by Ben Clarke, a researcher at the World Weather Attribution program, the overarching message remains clear: only a decisive shift away from fossil fuels and a reduction in emissions to net zero can disrupt the pattern of intensifying extreme weather events.

As we face the prospects of another potentially sweltering year, individuals and communities are urged to prepare. In the words of Chloe Brimicombe, “Look out for friends and families. Don’t be complacent.”

Relevant articles:
– Wild Weather Ahead: Summer 2024 Could Be a Scorcher After Hottest Year on Record, cnet.com
– 2023 confirmed as world’s hottest year on record, BBC
– NASA Analysis Confirms 2023 as Warmest Year on Record, NASA (.gov)
– 2023 was the hottest year on record. It also pushed the world over a dangerous line., Vox