Unprecedented Global Warming Breaches 1.5°C Threshold

For the 13th consecutive month, the Earth’s average monthly temperature has broken all previous records, continuing a concerning trend that began in June 2023, an article by Salon reported yesterday.

According to the European climate service Copernicus, the world has now been 1.5°C (2.7°F) higher than pre-industrial levels for over a year, pushing the planet dangerously close to the threshold established by the 2015 Paris climate agreement.

“It’s a stark warning that we are getting closer to this very important limit set by the Paris Agreement,” said Copernicus senior climate scientist Nicolas Julien. “The global temperature continues to increase at a rapid pace.”

Experts warn that this unprecedented event is causing a rise in deadly heat waves, droughts, and extreme weather events that are entirely new for many communities. “Along with this warming, we see increases in deadly heat waves and droughts, but also an increased experience of ‘global weirding’ – more extreme weather events producing conditions that are entirely new for communities,” said climatologist Dr. Twila Moon.

While some progress has been made in cutting carbon emissions, scientists agree that the measures taken so far are simply not enough to stabilize the climate. Urgent, drastic action is required to transition to a carbon-free energy system and avoid the devastating consequences of unchecked global heating.