· 2 min read
illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on the Financial Times or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: This year is set to be the warmest on record, with global surface air temperatures exceeding the 1.5°C threshold for the past 12 months and sea temperatures reaching their highest for 15 consecutive months
• June marked the 13th month in a row of record-breaking heat
🔭 The context: Despite the cooling influence of La Niña, the average global temperature for the past year was 1.64°C above the pre-industrial average, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service
• This unprecedented anomaly highlights the accelerating pace of climate change
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Sustained temperatures above 1.5°C threaten global efforts to limit warming as per the Paris Agreement, potentially leading to severe environmental and socioeconomic impacts
• The warming trend stresses the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
⏭️ What's next: While La Niña may bring some temporary cooling, the overall climate system continues to warm
• Immediate action to cut fossil fuel emissions is critical to mitigating further temperature increases and avoiding the worst impacts of climate change
💬 One quote: "We have never seen such an anomaly... this is not a good sign for global efforts to limit temperature rises," said Carlo Buontempo, director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service
📈 One stat: The average sea surface temperature for June was 20.85°C, the highest on record for the month
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