November Heatwave Cements 2023 as Warmest Year in History

AFP/APP

Paris: This year will be the hottest in recorded history after an “extraordinary” November became the sixth record-breaking month in a row, Europe’s climate monitor said on Wednesday, piling pressure on the COP28 talks to act on climate change.

Last month smashed the previous November heat record, pushing 2023’s global average temperature to 1.46 degrees Celsius warmer than pre-industrial levels, the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service said.

There had been warnings this year could take the title of hottest year from 2016—particularly after records toppled in September and October—but this marks the first time it has been confirmed.

November also contained two days that were 2 °C warmer than pre-industrial levels. Not one such day had ever before been recorded.

Samantha Burgess, deputy head of the Copernicus service, said that 2023 has “now had six record-breaking months and two record-breaking seasons”.

“The extraordinary global November temperatures, including two days warmer than 2C above pre-industrial levels, mean that 2023 is the warmest year in recorded history,” she said.

Scientists say data from ice cores, tree rings, and the like suggests this year could be the warmest in more than 100,000 years.