The summer of 2024 has shattered global temperature records, according to alarming data released Thursday by the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). From June to August, average global temperatures soared to an unprecedented 0.69°C above the 1991-2020 average, surpassing the previous record of 0.66°C set just last year.
Europe bore the brunt of this heatwave, experiencing its hottest summer on record with temperatures reaching 1.54°C above the seasonal average. This figure eclipses the prior record of 1.34°C noted in 2022, highlighting a concerning trend of escalating temperatures across the continent.
August 2024 echoed the severity of the summer’s heat, tying with August 2023 as the warmest August globally. The average surface air temperature for the month was recorded at 16.82°C, marking a disturbing 0.71°C increase over the historical norm. This month also continued a troubling pattern, representing the 13th out of 14 consecutive months in which global average surface air temperatures surpassed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
The last 12 months, from September 2023 to August 2024, also ranked as the warmest on record, with an average temperature anomaly of 0.76°C above historic averages and a staggering 1.64°C increase relative to pre-industrial times.
As of August 2024, the year-to-date global average temperature anomaly stands at 0.70°C above the average, raising concerns that this year could potentially break records as the hottest year ever documented.
Samantha Burgess, deputy director of C3S, emphasized the urgent need for action, stating, “The temperature-related extreme events witnessed this summer will only become more intense, with more devastating consequences for people and the planet, unless we take urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
The findings underscore the growing climate crisis, where record-breaking heatwaves and extreme weather events are increasingly common. As nations grapple with the implications of these rising temperatures, the call for immediate and decisive action has never been more critical.
