After a remarkable string of 13 consecutive months with new average heat records, Earth's trend came to a halt in July 2024, as announced by the European climate agency Copernicus. This change was attributed to the natural El Nino climate pattern waning.
Despite this shift, July 2024 still experienced near-record temperatures, just falling short of surpassing the previous year. Scientists emphasize that the end of the streak does not diminish the ongoing threat posed by climate change.
Copernicus highlighted that the global climate continues to warm, with human-induced climate change fueling extreme weather events worldwide. Recent weeks have seen devastating occurrences, including displacement in Cape Town due to heavy rain and flooding, a fatal landslide in Indonesia, and a destructive Category 4 hurricane named Beryl.
July 2024 saw an average global temperature of 62.4 degrees Fahrenheit, marking it as the second-warmest July on record. The month also recorded the two hottest days ever documented, with temperatures reaching approximately 62.9 degrees Fahrenheit.
According to Copernicus, the Earth was 1.48 degrees Celsius warmer in July 2024 compared to pre-industrial times, nearing the limit set by the 2015 Paris climate agreement. While the El Nino phase that drove the record heat has subsided, a general warming trend persists.
Regions such as western Canada and the western United States experienced intense heatwaves, with a significant portion of the U.S. population under heat warnings. Southern and eastern Europe, as well as parts of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, also faced extreme temperatures.
Experts caution that the end of the record-breaking streak does not signify relief from the impacts of climate change. The continuous rise in global temperatures underscores the urgent need to address the underlying causes, primarily the accumulation of greenhouse gases from human activities.
While the focus on the 13-month heat record streak has garnered attention, the long-standing consequences of climate change persist and require sustained efforts to mitigate their effects.
