PARIS, France: April 2024 has joined the ranks of unprecedented warmth, marking yet another month of record-breaking global air and sea surface temperatures, as detailed in a new report by the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service.
Despite the gradual weakening of the El Nino weather phenomenon, a primary contributor to heightened temperatures, human-induced climate change remains the driving force behind these extreme conditions.
Copernicus notes that since June of the previous year, each month has set new records for warmth, with April 2024 soaring to 1.58 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average. This sustained trend underscores the urgency of addressing climate change, particularly in light of the Paris Agreement’s goals to limit global warming.
The report highlights the concerning divergence of climate extremes across the globe. While swathes of Asia endure scorching heat waves, parts of southern Brazil grapple with devastating floods. Such diverging extremes underscore the complex and interconnected nature of climate systems, where each additional degree of global warming amplifies the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events. In April, Europe experienced a mixture of wetter and drier conditions, with floods wreaking havoc in some regions while others faced prolonged dry spells. Similarly, heavy rains and flooding plagued parts of North America and Central Asia, while Australia and northern Mexico experienced drier-than-normal conditions.
Notably, warming oceans continue to set alarming records, with April marking the 13th consecutive month of record sea surface temperatures. This trend poses significant threats to marine ecosystems, exacerbates atmospheric humidity levels, and jeopardizes the ocean’s vital role in absorbing greenhouse gas emissions. Looking ahead, climate forecasts suggest a potential transition to La Nina in the second half of the year, albeit with uncertainties. However, the underlying driver of these temperature records remains unchanged: the escalating concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
As Copernicus Director Carlo Buontempo emphasizes, the relentless accumulation of greenhouse gases ensures that global temperatures will continue to rise, pushing humanity toward ever more concerning climate milestones. With warnings from the UN indicating a high probability of 2024 setting new temperature records, urgent and decisive action is needed to mitigate the impacts of climate change and safeguard the future of our planet.
