Title: September 2023 Sets New Heat Records, Marking 2023 as Hottest Year on Track
In a concerning report released by the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, September 2023 has been declared the hottest September on record. The month’s average global air temperature exceeded the previous record set in 2020 by 0.5 degrees Celsius, marking the fourth consecutive month of unprecedented heat. Experts warn that if this trend continues, 2023 is on course to become the hottest year ever recorded.
September’s average global air temperature registered at 16.38 degrees Celsius, which is 0.93 degrees Celsius hotter than the average between 1991 and 2020. Moreover, it was a staggering 1.75 degrees Celsius hotter than the September average during the pre-industrial era. Disturbingly, this abnormal heat significantly surpasses the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold established in the Paris Climate Agreement to limit global warming.
The consequences of September’s extreme heat have been catastrophic. Devastating flooding engulfed Libya and parts of Europe, while unprecedented wildfires ravaged Canada. South America and New York experienced both record-breaking heat and rainfall. Additionally, ocean temperatures soared to record highs, and Antarctic sea ice reached record lows for this time of year.
Described by climatologists and weather historians as “gobsmackingly bananas” and “one of the most extreme climate events in European history,” these temperature records raise serious concerns. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimates that there is a more than 93% chance that 2023 will be the hottest year on record.
The alarming rise in temperatures can be attributed to a combination of the natural climate pattern El Niño and human-caused climate change. Experts emphasize the urgency in phasing out fossil fuels to address the ongoing record-breaking temperatures and their devastating impact on both people and ecosystems.
These unprecedented heat records serve as a wake-up call for policymakers and negotiators attending the United Nations COP28 climate summit in Dubai this December. September’s scorching temperatures demand immediate action to combat climate change and its disastrous consequences. The need to align policies with the urgent call provided by September’s record-breaking temperatures cannot be overstated.
