WMO, national meteorological agencies

Earth's Warming Rate Hits All-Time High in 2023 with 12 Months of Record-Breaking Heat, UN Warns of 'Climate Hell'

Jun 5, 2024, 02:30 PM

The rate at which Earth is warming has hit an all-time high, with 2023 marking a significant year for climate change. According to a new study, 92% of the record-breaking heat in 2023 was caused by human activities, with the remaining 8% attributed to El Niño. The North Atlantic sea surface temperature has been record-warm for 15 consecutive months. The past 12 months have all been the hottest on record, with each month from June 2023 to May 2024 setting new temperature records. Earth has averaged over 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels during this period, according to CopernicusECMWF. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for urgent climate action, warning of a 'highway to climate hell' if immediate steps are not taken to protect the planet. This alarming trend underscores the need for global efforts to mitigate climate change and safeguard Earth's ecosystems.