Key takeaways:
- August was the hottest month ever recorded by modern equipment, and the second hottest month measured, behind only July 2023.
- The average temperature in August was 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) higher than pre-industrial averages.
- The extreme temperatures have had a devastating effect on the environment, with many areas experiencing extreme weather events such as heat waves, droughts, and wildfires.
Earth has just experienced its hottest Northern Hemisphere summer on record, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). August was the hottest month ever recorded by modern equipment, and the second hottest month measured, behind only July 2023.
The average temperature in August was 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) higher than pre-industrial averages, which is the warming threshold that the world is trying not to pass. This is significant as it is over decades, not just one month.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres commented on the data, saying, “Our planet has just endured a season of simmering — the hottest summer on record. The dog days of summer are not just barking, they are biting.”
The extreme temperatures have had a devastating effect on the environment, with many areas experiencing extreme weather events such as heat waves, droughts, and wildfires. U.S. President Joe Biden has acknowledged the climate crisis and promised federal aid for Idalia recovery.
The WMO and C3S have urged governments to take action to reduce emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change. They have also called for increased investment in research and development of renewable energy sources.
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