2023 was hottest on record, temperatures exceeded those in ‘last 100,000 years’: EU body
Global warming (Representative image)
The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), European Union's climate monitoring arm, said on Tuesday (January 9) that 2023 was the hottest year ever on record. The deputy head of C3S even said that the temperatures in 2023 'likely' exceeded those in last 100,000 years.
"It is also the first year with all days over one degree warmer than the pre-industrial period," said Samantha Burgess, deputy head of the C3S.
"Temperatures during 2023 likely exceed those of any period in at least the last 100,000 years."
With this, it has been observed that Earth's surface almost crossed 1.5 degree Celsius level above those in pre-industrial times.
The 1.5C level is an internationally agreed critical level within which, it is essential to contain Global Warming.
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The year 2023 witnessed catastrophic events like massive wildfires in Canada, extreme droughts in Africa, summer heatwaves in Europe and record increase in winter temperatures in Australia and South America.
AFP quoted an expert who warned that such events will continue to occur if we do not transition from fossil fuels and reach net zero emissions.
"We will continue to suffer the consequences of our inactions today for generations," said Ed Hawkins, a professor from University of Reading.
The findings from the Copernicus service have been released a month after COP28 Summit agreement in Dubai. The agreement called for gradual shift away from fossil fuels, the main contributors to global carbon emissions.
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Humanity has had reliable weather records from the middle of the 19th century. But intensive study of the weather before this has been made with the help of tree rings, sediment deposition and ice cores etc. Burgess leaned on this when she said that temperatures in 2023 "exceed those of any period in at least the last 100,000 years"
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The year 2023 witnessed record breaking temperature across the world. The year was second-warmest on record in Europe. El Nino, the weather phenomenon that has warming effect on oceans and global weather, also began last year.
Oceans absorb90 per cent of the excess heat produced by human activities. Rising temperatures affect the aquatic life and even increase intensity of storms.
(With inputs from agencies)