February was warmest on record globally, say scientists

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Guardian or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Last month was officially the warmest February on record globally, marking the ninth consecutive month of record temperatures for the respective time of year
• This includes a spike in global sea surface temperatures, which have reached their highest levels ever recorded

🔭 The context: Data from the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service highlights a significant increase in global temperatures, with February experiencing an average temperature 1.77°C above the pre-industrial average
• This trend contributes to the global average temperature for the past 12 months being the highest on record, at 1.56°C above pre-industrial levels

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: This recent temperature surge temporarily places the world above the critical 1.5°C threshold, beyond which the most severe impacts of climate change are anticipated
• The continuous warming is a direct consequence of increasing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, underscoring the urgent need for global climate action

⏭️ What's next: As these records continue to be broken, experts stress the necessity of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to renewable energy sources to mitigate the effects of climate change
• Without significant action, extreme weather events, exacerbated by climate change, will persist in causing widespread destruction and hardship

💬 One quote: “The climate continues to warm as humans continue to burn oil, gas, and coal. It is a very well understood relationship,” (Dr. Friederike Otto, Imperial College London)

📈 One stat: The global sea surface temperature reached a new high of 21.09°C at the end of February 2024, surpassing previous records

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