Record Number of Days Witnessed as Global Temperatures Surpass Crucial 1.5C Threshold

Scientists are growing concerned as the world is rapidly approaching a key warming threshold, according to an analysis by the BBC. In 2023, the average global temperature was at least 1.5C higher than pre-industrial levels for about a third of the year. Staying below this marker is crucial to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. However, 2023 is on track to be the hottest year on record, and 2024 could be even hotter. The increase in temperature is a sign that the world is reaching unprecedented levels. This comes after a year of record-breaking temperatures and extreme weather events. The Paris Agreement signed in 2015 aims to limit the rise in global temperatures to well below 2C and make efforts to stay below 1.5C. Although these limits refer to long-term averages, breaching the 1.5C threshold more frequently indicates a closer breach of this mark overall. The record for the number of days above 1.5C was previously set in 2016, but as of October 2, 2023 has already surpassed that figure. These temperature anomalies are driven in part by El Niño conditions, which are weaker than in 2016 but still contribute to the warming. The increase in sea temperatures is another contributing factor, potentially caused by decreased air pollution from shipping in the North Atlantic. High temperatures in Antarctica have also affected the global average, but it is unclear to what extent human-caused warming plays a role. Researchers are calling for urgent action on emissions and for political leaders to prioritize climate action at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai in November. The consequences of climate change are becoming increasingly severe with each fraction of a degree of warming, as demonstrated by extreme weather events around the world.