September 2023 recorded as the second-warmest September, contributing to predictions that 2024 will be the hottest year on record. Extreme weather events, including severe rainfall and storms, are increasingly evident due to rising global temperatures. Experts express concerns over the feasibility of maintaining climate goals amid escalating temperatures, with warnings that continued emissions could lead to significant global warming by 2100.
In September 2023, the planet recorded its second-warmest September ever, according to the European Union’s climate monitoring agency Copernicus. This extraordinary month, alongside predictions of 2024 potentially being the hottest year on record, demonstrates a stark increase in extreme weather events attributable to climate change. Global temperatures are significantly affected by the accumulation of heat in the atmosphere and oceans, leading to more severe rainfall and destructive storms worldwide. In particular, regions around the globe experienced intense precipitation, with some areas receiving several months’ worth of rain within just a few days. Copernicus noted that the rising temperatures have contributed to the frequency and intensity of such extreme weather occurrences. Samantha Burgess, the Deputy Director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, remarked on the trend of worsening extreme rainfall due to a warming atmosphere, emphasizing that the likelihood of such events will rise with ongoing temperature increases. The month was characterized by severe storms, including Hurricane Helene in the southeastern United States and Typhoon Krathon impacting Taiwan, alongside numerous other devastating weather incidents across Asia, Europe, and Africa. Furthermore, analyses revealed that from January to September 2024, temperature averages have reached unprecedented levels, confirming the probability that this year may surpass all previous temperature records. Despite the alarming rise in temperatures—14 of the last 15 months being at least 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial averages—this situation does not currently violate the Paris Climate Agreement’s goals, as these thresholds are measured over longer periods. However, experts have raised concerns that the target of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius may soon become unattainable. The United Nations Environment Programme warns that without significant reductions in carbon emissions, temperatures could increase by up to 2.9 degrees Celsius by the year 2100. The Copernicus data, which extends back to 1940, is complemented by various historical climate data sources, suggesting that the current period may be the warmest the Earth has experienced in over 100 millennia, dating back to the onset of the last Ice Age.
The article reports on emerging global climate patterns, particularly noting the alarming rise in temperatures in September 2023, which has led scientists to predict 2024 will likely set new temperature records. The information is based on data collected by the Copernicus agency, an institution recognized for its comprehensive climate monitoring capabilities. Global warming has manifested in increasingly severe weather events, highlighting the urgent need for international action against climate change.
In conclusion, the alarming rise in global temperatures, as indicated by the Copernicus report, emphasizes the inevitability of climate change’s impacts on weather patterns. The consequences of rising temperatures necessitate urgent global action to mitigate emissions and prevent further environmental degradation. The current trajectory, if maintained, could lead to unprecedented climate conditions, informing policy decisions and public awareness on a global scale.
Original Source: www.rfi.fr
