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illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on USA Today or enjoy below
🗞️ Driving the news: Scientists and experts report alarming changes in Earth's natural systems, including ocean heat waves, record temperatures, and decreased sea ice levels
• Climate scientist and author of the book "Our Fragile Moment," Michael Mann rejects the idea that we've reached a tipping point, but states that conditions are getting steadily worse due to ongoing fossil fuel consumption
🔭 The context: The Climate Change Institute at the University of Maine has been actively monitoring and reporting these significant shifts in our climate
• According on NASA data, the planet has been warming since 1890, with June and July of 2023 setting new temperature records
🌎 Why it matters for the planet: The increasing temperatures could lead to irreversible damage if unchecked, with CO2 levels reached a new record in May 2023, further indicating the acceleration of global warming
⏭️ What's next: The observed warming in the Arctic, especially concerning sea ice, predicts potentially ice-free Septembers in the near future, possibly by 2035
• With records continually being shattered, scientists are calling for immediate and impactful interventions
💬 One quote: "This has been a summer unlike any we’ve yet experienced. There is a pervasive sense of doom among many witnessing the onslaught of dangerous and deadly extreme weather events" (Michael Mann, Climate Scientist)
📈 One stat: 2023 near-surface air temperatures have consistently been well above average since June, with July 4-6 marking the largest daily global mean temperature increase on record for those days
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