The world in 2023 recorded its warmest calendar year since the start of the industrial era, with an average surface temperature that was 1.48 degrees C higher than preindustrial times, said the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service on Tuesday. Very soon, the world will see a 12-month period that exceeds the 1.5 degree threshold, where sustained high temperatures heighten the risk of climate-related catastrophes.
“Not only is 2023 the warmest year on record, it is also the first year with all days over 1 degree C warmer than the preindustrial period,” said Samantha Burgess, Copernicus’ deputy director. “Temperatures during 2023 likely exceed those of any period in at least the last 100,000 years.”
In a news release, Copernicus said, “It is likely that a 12-month period ending in January or February 2024 will exceed 1.5°C above the preindustrial level.” Nearly one half of the days in 2023 were more than 1.5 degrees warmer than the 1850-1900 preindustrial level. Two days in November were 2 degrees warmer.