· 2 min read
illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Guardian or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: Australia's climate has officially warmed by 1.5°C since 1910, marking a significant milestone in the country's climate history
• The Bureau of Meteorology's annual climate statement for 2023 revealed this year as Australia's joint-eighth warmest year on record, with temperatures 0.98°C above the 1961-1990 average
🔭 The context: This warming is part of a global trend attributed mainly to the burning of fossil fuels and land clearing, which has increased atmospheric CO2 levels by about 50% since the 18th century
• Australia's land surface warming aligns with the global climate trajectory, emphasizing the urgency of addressing climate change
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The milestone is particularly concerning as Australia's warming exceeds the global average, with land warming faster than oceans
• This has profound implications for weather patterns, ecosystems, and water availability, making the fight against global warming more critical than ever
⏭️ What's next: The continued warming trend underscores the need for robust climate action, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to unavoidable climate impact
• The shift from La Niña to El Niño conditions in 2023, contributing to record warmth and dryness, further highlights the volatility of Australia's climate in a warming world
💬 One quote: "Every hundredth of a degree of warming matters. [Hitting 1.5°C] might be symbolic, but it does not make it any less scary. It’s a jolt," (Dr. Linden Ashcroft, University of Melbourne)
📈 One stat: Sea surface temperatures around Australia were the seventh-warmest on record in 2023, at 0.54°C above the 1961-1990 average
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