New Milestone Set in April 2024
The European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) has announced that the world experienced its hottest April on record since its data set began in 1940.
This marks the 11th consecutive month of record-breaking global temperatures, dating back to June 2023.
"While temperature variability linked to natural cycles such as El Niño will come and go, the excess energy trapped in the ocean and atmosphere due to the increasing greenhouse gas concentrations will continue to push global temperatures to new highs," warned C3S Director Carlo Buontempo.
Limited Hopes for 1.5-Degree Target
Climate scientist Hayley Fowler of Newcastle University in the UK believes that the latest data suggests that the world will likely fail to meet the target of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels (1850-1900).
Fowler stated that "the battle to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees may have been lost, and we now need serious action to contain it below 2 degrees and cut emissions as fast as possible."
The 1.5-degree target represents the level at which scientists say the most catastrophic consequences of warming, such as deadly heatwaves, floods, and irreversible ecosystem loss, could be avoided.
Other Countries Report Record-Breaking Temperatures
On the same day, Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported that the country had experienced its hottest April in 40 years. BMKG data indicate that temperatures in April 2024 were nearly 1 degree Celsius higher than the previous year.
Meanwhile, South Korea also recorded its warmest April since 1973. According to the Yonhap news agency, the average temperature for the month was 14.9 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous record of 14.7 degrees Celsius set in 1998.
The Korea Meteorological Administration noted that the country's average temperature has risen by 0.8 degrees Celsius over the past 51 years. Japan also recently experienced its highest average April temperature in nearly 130 years.
Summary
Global temperatures continue to set new records, with April 2024 becoming the hottest April on record. The Earth has now experienced 11 straight months of record-breaking temperatures. Experts warn that greenhouse gas emissions are driving this trend and that urgent action is needed to limit temperature rise and mitigate the consequences of climate change.