According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, this summer has entered the record books as the hottest summer ever recorded across the globe. With an unprecedented rise in temperatures, 2024 is on track to become the hottest year ever.
Unprecedented heat across the globe
The summer of 2024 has broken previous records, becoming the hottest season on Earth since record keeping began. The Copernicus Climate Change Service, a leading climate monitoring agency of the European Union, has confirmed that the average global temperature this summer was well above the long-term average.
Europe, in particular, experienced exceptional heat, with temperatures 1.54 degrees Celsius above the average from 1991 to 2020. This surpassed the previous record set in 2022. Notably, August marked the 13th time in the past 14 months that global temperatures were more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels – a stark reminder of the ongoing and intensifying impact of climate change.
Regional variations: Mixed bag
While much of Europe sweltered in extreme heat, the UK experienced its coolest summer since 2015. However, this cooling trend in the UK did not prevent overall European temperatures from contributing to the record-setting global heat.
Austria recorded its hottest summer ever, while Spain suffered its hottest August on record. Finland also saw its joint-hottest August, and Switzerland experienced its second-hottest summer. In contrast, parts of Ireland, the UK, western Portugal, Iceland and southern Norway experienced cool conditions. These regional variations highlight the uneven distribution of temperature anomalies across the continent.
2024: On track to be the hottest year
So far, the global average temperature for 2024 is on track to be 0.7°C above the 1991-2020 average, potentially setting this year on track to be the hottest year ever recorded globally. The current year follows the record-setting 2023, which was previously ranked as the hottest year ever recorded.
Copernicus Deputy Director Samantha Burgess stressed that the intensity of temperature-related extreme weather events seen this summer is likely to become more pronounced in the future. This trend underlines the increasing frequency and severity of climate-related extremes.
The role of El Niño and the future outlook
The record heat of 2024 is partly driven by a natural climate phenomenon called El Niño. This periodic increase in sea surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific Ocean, which lasted from June 2023 to May 2024, pumped additional heat into the atmosphere, causing global temperatures to rise.
Although El Niño has now ended, its effects are still affecting global temperatures. Looking into the future, scientists predict that the Pacific Ocean could transition into a cooler phase, known as La Niña, in the coming months. La Niña typically cools sea surface temperatures and can affect weather patterns globally, but its impact will need to be closely monitored.
Growing concern of extreme weather
The unprecedented heat waves and extreme weather events seen this summer are a stark reminder of the ongoing climate crisis. Heatwaves have not only set new temperature records but have also had significant impacts on ecosystems, agriculture and human health. These extreme events highlight the urgent need for comprehensive climate action and adaptation strategies.
Rising temperatures are part of a broader trend of increasing global heat, driven primarily by human activities, including the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. These activities have caused significant increases in greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, contributing to the overall warming trend.
Addressing Climate Change: A Call to Action
The record temperatures of the summer of 2024 reinforce the critical importance of addressing climate change. Governments, businesses, and individuals have a role to play in mitigating the effects of global warming. This includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions, shifting to renewable energy sources, and implementing policies that promote sustainability and resilience.
International climate agreements such as the Paris Agreement aim to limit global temperature rise and increase efforts to adapt to climate impacts. The continued increase in temperatures despite these agreements underscores the need for more aggressive action and sustained commitment to climate goals.
Conclusion
As the summer of 2024 ends, it leaves a stark record of unprecedented heat and a powerful reminder of the growing climate crisis. With global average temperatures reaching new peaks and the effects of El Niño still being felt, the months ahead will be crucial in determining how climate patterns evolve and how society adapts to these changes.
The challenge ahead is clear: to address the root causes of climate change, mitigate its impacts and build a more resilient future. This time’s extreme heat