Scientists Confirm 2023 as the Hottest Year on Record

Earth's temperature in 2023 has surpassed all previous records, as confirmed by scientists. The European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service has found that this year's global temperature will be more than 1.4 degrees Celsius warmer than pre-industrial levels, approaching the critical 1.5-degree threshold set in the Paris climate agreement. Scientists warn that beyond this threshold, both humans and ecosystems will face significant challenges in adaptation.

Every month since June has broken the record as the hottest month on record, and November continued this trend. The month was approximately 1.75 degrees warmer than pre-industrial levels, with two days reaching over 2 degrees, causing concern among scientists about the future implications for the planet.

This report coincides with the gathering of delegates from over 150 countries in Dubai for COP28, the UN's yearly climate summit. The heated discussions at the summit center around the debate on phasing out fossil fuels that contribute to global warming.

Brenda Ekwurzel, director of climate science at the Union of Concerned Scientists, emphasized the urgent need for action in light of the record-breaking year. She stated that wealthy and high-emitting countries, which have contributed significantly to the issue, have a greater responsibility to quickly and equitably phase out fossil fuels in order to mitigate the escalating impacts of extreme weather and climate change.

This photograph taken on November 3, shows waves crashing on the "Rocher de La Vierge" (Virgin Rock) as Storm Ciarán hits the region, in Biarritz, southwestern France.

Gaizka Iroz/AFP/Getty Images

According to scientists, the unusually warm weather in 2023 can be attributed to the combined impact of El Niño and human-induced climate change. Multiple continents experienced deadly heatwaves and record-breaking high temperatures, along with unprecedented ocean heat covering a large part of the world.

The fall in the Northern Hemisphere this year broke records for warmth, according to Copernicus. November was also wetter than usual across most of Europe, with Storm Ciarán causing heavy rain and floods in many regions, including Italy.

As temperatures continue to rise, the world seems to be heading towards exceeding 1.5 degrees of warming on a long-term basis in the near future. With global warming consistently surpassing that temperature for months at a time, scientists are especially concerned that the planet will remain above 1.5 degrees in the long run.

By 2022, the Earth had warmed approximately 1.2 degrees, and recent years have unmistakably demonstrated that the world is already experiencing alarming effects of the unanticipated climate crisis. A report from the World Meteorological Organization released on Tuesday revealed that the decade from 2011 to 2020 was the warmest on record for the Earth's land and oceans, with the rate of climate change surging and dramatically accelerating glacier loss and sea-level rise.

Copernicus Director Carlo Buontempo stated that with the continued rise in greenhouse gas concentrations, there will be no change in the outcomes observed this year. He emphasized that the temperature and the impact of heatwaves and droughts will only continue to increase.