Title: The rise in global temperatures exceeds 1.5 degrees Celsius: a serious warning for the future of our planet
Introduction :
The rise in global temperatures has exceeded 1.5 degrees Celsius over the past 12 months, crossing a critical threshold for life on Earth, according to new data from Copernicus, the European Union’s climate monitoring service. This record increase is an alarming progression compared to the pre-industrial period, with an average of 1.52 degrees warmer. Last year saw the hottest January on record, with the temperature 1.66 degrees warmer than the pre-industrial January average.
A warning for the future of our planet:
Keeping global warming below two degrees Celsius, or even 1.5 degrees, was the main goal of the Paris Agreement, signed by most of the world in 2015. However, this rapid rise in annual temperatures shows that we are rapidly approaching the limits set by the Paris Agreement.
Matt Patterson, a postdoctoral researcher in atmospheric physics at the University of Oxford, calls the event a “significant milestone” but stresses that this does not mean the Paris Agreement has failed. It highlights the urgency for humanity to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions to avoid dangerous climate change.
Extreme weather phenomena and heat records:
Rising temperatures are manifesting in a series of heat records on land and sea over the past year. The past eight months have been the hottest on record, according to Copernicus, while 2023 has been the hottest on our calendar.
January’s average sea surface temperature also broke a record, with an increase of 0.26 degrees compared to the previous record set in 2016.
Copernicus Deputy Director Samantha Burgess said in a statement that “2024 kicks off with another historically warm month – not only is January the hottest month on record, but we have also just experienced a 12-month period with a temperature greater than 1.5 degrees above the pre-industrial baseline period. Rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are the only way to stop the rise in global temperatures.”
The impact of human activities and El Niño:
The climate crisis is mainly caused by the burning of coal, oil and gas to produce energy. Its effects are amplified by the natural phenomenon of El Niño, which occurs in the Pacific Ocean and which has also contributed to the rise in global temperatures in recent months.
Extreme weather events, already reinforced by long-term global warming, are now exacerbated by El Niño, creating a devastating combination. More than 160 wildfires in Chile this week have killed more than 120 people and reduced entire neighborhoods to ashes, becoming the deadliest fires in the country’s recent history.
Also in California, recent storms have been exacerbated by El Niño, with heavy rains and increased destructive power.
Conclusion :
The rise in global temperatures exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius over the past 12 months is a serious warning for the future of our planet. This highlights the urgent need to take drastic measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming. We must act quickly to avoid the devastating consequences of uncontrollable climate change, which would threaten the survival of many species and the stability of our ecosystem. The responsibility to protect our planet lies with us all, and it is imperative that we take collective and individual action to combat global warming.