Last year was officially the hottest year on record.

Record temperatures should be a 'red flag'; Photo: SERGIO FLORES/BLOOMBERG

Last year was the hottest on record, climatologists confirmed, exceeding previous highs by a significant margin in what was called a “wake-up call for all.”

Global situation Po According to the EU Climate Change Service Copernicus, the average temperature in 2023 was 14.98°C, which is 1.48°C higher than the pre-industrial level of 1850–1900.

This is close to 1.5°C, which is the warming limit. in line with Paris Agreement targets based on long-term averages.

This is 0.17°C higher than the previous hottest year on record, 2016.Samantha Burgess, deputy director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, said 2023 was “an exceptional year with climate data falling like dominoes.”

“2023 is not only the warmest year on record, but also the first year with all days 1 degree warmer than pre-industrial times,” she said. “Temperatures in 2023 will likely exceed those of any period in the last 100,000 years.”

“It's a shock that this year undeniably broke the global temperature record,” said Bill Collins, a professor of climate change processes. at the University of Reading.

“There is no way to find fault with hundredths of a degree; exceeding the previous record by 0.17 degrees should be an alarming signal for everyone.”

Extreme weather conditions led to wildfires around the world this summer. Photo: SPYROS BAKALIS/AFP

Scientists expect 2024 to be even warmer as the world enters the second year of the latest El Niño warming phenomenon.

On track for 2.9°C warming< p>“The natural effects of El Niño have temporarily exacerbated long-term human-induced warming, which is currently around 1.3°C, but even after El Niño subsides, warming will continue until we reach global emissions to net zero,” said Professor Richard Betts from the Hadleigh Met Office. Center

Achieving 1.5°C of warming in one or two years does not mean the world has failed to meet the Paris Agreement targets, which are based on long-term averages believed to be 20 years or more .

But climate scientists say the world is expected to warm by about 2.9°C without further action to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Global temperatures reached more than half a degree above average this summer Photo: CHRIS RATCLIFFE/BLOOMBERG

July 2023 was likely the hottest month in the last 120,000 years – almost as long as modern humanity has been around – at the time as sea ice in Antarctica was at historic lows.< /p>

Global average sea surface temperatures reached a record high for this time of year from April to December last year as marine heatwaves were felt around the world.

< p>Arctic sea ice is among the four coldest temperatures for time of year in satellite records during the usual peak in March.

Emissions from wildfires also increased by 30 percent last year, mainly due to huge fires across Canada.