Monday marked a new global record for the hottest day ever, surpassing the previous day’s record as countries worldwide experience extreme heat, as reported by the European climate change service. Read more
According to provisional satellite data released by Copernicus, Monday’s temperature broke the previous day’s record by 0.06 degrees Celsius (0.1 degree Fahrenheit).
Climate scientists attribute the current warmth to human-caused climate change, comparing it to temperatures from 125,000 years ago. The recent rise in temperatures aligns with projections made by climate scientists due to increased fossil fuel consumption.
Copernicus’ data indicates that the global average temperature on Monday was 17.15 degrees Celsius, or 62.87 degrees Fahrenheit. This surpassed the previous record set just last year. The exceptionally warm temperatures in 2024 were influenced by a warmer Antarctic winter.
Among other scientific measurements, the records go back to 1940, with some data extending even further back to 1880. Scientists warn that without immediate action on climate change, extreme temperature records will continue to be broken at an alarming rate.
Christiana Figueres, former head of U.N. climate negotiations, emphasizes the urgent need for global action to mitigate the impacts of climate change. She advocates for the use of solar and wind energy to transition to a more sustainable future.
AP science writer Seth Borenstein contributed to this report.
Follow Sibi Arasu on Twitter at @sibi123
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.