Record Summer Temperatures Set World on Course for Hottest Year Ever

The Northern Hemisphere has recorded its highest summer temperatures ever, positioning 2024 to potentially become the hottest year in history, Al Jazeera reported.

Data from the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) reveals that June and August were the hottest on record, with global temperatures exceeding 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels for 13 of the past 14 months.

According to experts, this summer’s heat was intensified by human-driven climate change and the El Niño phenomenon, which warmed eastern Pacific waters. In contrast, regions such as Alaska and parts of South America reported lower-than-average temperatures. Climate-related disasters have surged, including severe flooding in Sudan affecting over 300,000 people and Typhoon Gaemi, which killed more than 100 individuals across the Philippines, Taiwan, and China.

The average global temperature in August reached 16.82°C (62.28°F), indicating a critical need for nations to meet emissions reduction targets established under the 2015 Paris Agreement to mitigate future climate impacts.