The World’s Average Surface Air Temperature Reaches New Record: 17.15C

The world’s average surface air temperature reached a new record high on Monday, surpassing the previous record set just a day earlier. According to preliminary data from the European Union’s monitoring agency, the temperature reached 17.15C, slightly edging out the 17.09C record set on Sunday.

This latest record comes amidst a period of intense heatwaves and high temperatures around the world. From Japan to the United States to Europe, people have been experiencing extreme heat, with temperatures soaring to 44C in Spain and oppressive humidity in the Gulf region. Additionally, forest fires have been blazing in areas like Greece, Portugal, and North America.

The Copernicus Climate Change Service director, Carlo Buontempo, remarked on the significance of the new temperature record, stating that the difference between the temperature of the last 13 months and previous records is truly staggering. As the climate continues to warm, Buontempo predicts that new records will continue to be broken.

Climate experts attribute the rising temperatures to an overall warming trend driven by human activities such as burning fossil fuels. Dr. Joyce Kimutai, a climate scientist at Imperial College London, emphasized that this trend was predicted by climate science and will continue until emissions are reduced.

Despite the absence of the El Nino climate pattern this year, which contributed to record temperatures last year, the fact that this new record was achieved without its influence is seen as remarkable by experts. The top 10 years with the highest daily average temperatures now all fall between 2015 and 2024, indicating a clear upward trend in global temperatures.

As the world grapples with the consequences of climate change, calls are being made for urgent action to reduce emissions and accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources. The new record serves as a stark reminder of the pressing need to address the climate crisis before further records are broken.