Earth’s streak of setting new average heat records for 13 consecutive months was interrupted in July as the El Nino climate phenomenon faded, according to the European climate agency Copernicus. However, July 2024 still ranked as the second-warmest July and second-warmest month on record, with temperatures close to those of the previous year.
Despite this interruption in the record-breaking trend, experts emphasize that the overall warming of the climate remains a significant concern. Copernicus deputy director Samantha Burgess highlighted that the world is still on a trajectory of warming due to human-induced climate change, which leads to severe weather events globally.
The global average temperature for July 2024 was 62.4 degrees Fahrenheit, slightly lower than the same period the year before but still 1.2 degrees above the 30-year average for the month. This places Earth as being 1.48 degrees Celsius warmer than pre-industrial times, nearing the 1.5-degree limit agreed upon in the Paris climate agreement.
The previous record-setting streak was influenced by El Nino, which has now ended. However, experts stress that the underlying cause of the warming trend is the long-term accumulation of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from activities such as burning fossil fuels.
July’s high temperatures disproportionately impacted regions like western Canada, western U.S., southern Europe, and various other parts of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Heat warnings were issued in several countries, leading to disruptions in daily life and cultural events, such as the closure of Greece’s Acropolis due to excessive heat.
Climatologist Gavin Schmidt warned that despite the temporary halt in the record-setting streak, the continuous rise in temperatures is a significant concern. He emphasized that the impacts of climate change have been ongoing for years and will persist beyond the end of the previous record streak.
In conclusion, experts urge people to recognize that the end of the consecutive record-setting months does not diminish the urgent need to address climate change and its far-reaching consequences. The collective global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change are crucial in ensuring a sustainable future for our planet.
