According to leading temperature datasets, including Berkeley Earth, NASA, and Copernicus Climate Change Services (C3S), global climate trends have reached a new milestone.
In the past year, the 12-month running mean global temperature has exceeded 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. While this doesn’t directly breach the Paris Agreement’s target of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, it represents a concerning advancement toward that limit. Further, on March 28, the world will witness another significant temperature milestone. It is highly likely that on this date, the sea surface temperature (SST) will register as the warmest compared to previous years, marking 364 days out of the past 365 as record-setting.
This development underscores the urgency of addressing climate change and implementing measures to mitigate its impacts. Rising sea surface temperatures have profound implications for marine ecosystems, including coral reefs, marine life, and weather patterns. Additionally, warmer oceans contribute to sea level rise, posing threats to coastal communities and infrastructure. The continuous warming trend underscores the importance of global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition towards sustainable, low-carbon economies. The Paris Agreement’s objectives, aimed at limiting global temperature rises and safeguarding the planet’s future, require collective action and commitment from nations worldwide. We are approaching another temperature milestone, which serves as a stark reminder to take immediate action to address climate change. In order to build resilience against the effects of climate change, government, businesses, and individuals must prioritize sustainability and adopt measures to curb emissions, protect natural ecosystems, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
