Hottest September on record puts 2023 on track to be warmest year ever

(United Nations News) This September was the hottest one ever and 2023 is firmly set to be the warmest year on record, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Thursday, citing data from the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). 

Average surface temperature reached 16.38°C, or 0.5°C above the previous record in September 2020.

Last month was roughly 1.75°C warmer compared to the pre-industrial period. It was also  0.93°C warmer than the 1991-2020 baseline which is used as a practical tool for climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture.

WMO said this continues an extended streak of extraordinary land and sea-surface temperatures and is an ominous signal about the speed with which greenhouse gases (GHG) are changing the climate.

“The temperature anomalies are enormous – far bigger than anything we have ever seen in the past. Antarctic winter sea ice extent was the lowest on record for the time of year,” said Petteri Taalas, the agency’s Secretary-General.

“What is especially worrying is that the warming El Niño event is still developing, and so we can expect these record-breaking temperatures to continue for months, with cascading impacts on our environment and society,” he added. 

Read more at: United Nations News

Source: CARICOM TODAY