By John Ikani
Planet Earth is in the grip of unprecedented heat.
Preliminary data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) revealed that Monday, July 22, 2024, became the hottest day on record, with a global average temperature of 17.15 degrees Celsius.
This surpasses the previous record set just a day before.
“This is exactly what climate science told us would happen if the world continued burning coal, oil and gas,” warned Joyce Kimutai, a climate scientist from Imperial College London.
“And it will continue getting hotter until we stop burning fossil fuels and reach net zero emissions.”
Copernicus anticipates further record-breaking temperatures as the northern hemisphere experiences peak summer. The monitor also warned of potential fluctuations despite an overall cooling trend.
The relentless heat has triggered a cascade of extreme weather events across the globe, from devastating wildfires to crippling heatwaves. The Arctic, a crucial climate regulator, is warming at an alarming rate.
“The much-used term ‘unprecedented’ no longer describes the horrific temperatures we are experiencing,” said Christiana Figueres, a former head of the UN’s climate change body.
Scientists warn that the current period is likely the warmest the Earth has experienced in the last 100,000 years. The relentless burning of fossil fuels, the primary driver of climate change, continues to fuel rising global temperatures.
