Sunday, July 21, has set a new global heat record, according to preliminary data from the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. The global average surface air temperature reached 17.09 degrees Celsius (62.76 degrees Fahrenheit), narrowly surpassing the previous record of 17.08 degrees Celsius (62.74 degrees Fahrenheit) set last July.
This milestone comes amid a series of intense heatwaves that have swept across the United States, Europe, and Russia in recent weeks. Copernicus confirmed to Reuters that this new record has been set in their data records, which date back to 1940.
Last year, the planet experienced four consecutive days of record-breaking temperatures from July 3 to July 6, driven by climate change linked to fossil fuel combustion. The persistent rise in temperatures is a stark reminder of the ongoing impact of human activity on the global climate.
Copernicus also noted that every month since June 2023 has been the hottest on record for its respective month. This 13-month streak highlights the continuous and alarming trend of rising global temperatures.
Some scientists are predicting that 2024 could surpass 2023 as the hottest year on record. This expectation is based on the combined effects of climate change and the recent El Nino weather phenomenon, which ended in April, further contributing to the year’s extreme temperatures.
As the world grapples with the consequences of climate change, the new record set on July 21 serves as another urgent call to action for mitigating its impacts and addressing the root causes.
