The Earth has been experiencing record-breaking heat for the past 11 months, with warmer weather already spreading across Asia. This is according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, which reports that last month’s temperatures globally were 1.58°C (2.8°F) above historical averages, making it the hottest April on record.
The past 12 months have seen temperatures rise by 1.61°C above pre-industrial levels, surpassing the 1.5°C threshold that could pose a threat to life on the planet. The Copernicus program, which is the world’s largest provider of climate data, monitors these trends using billions of measurements from satellites, ships, aircraft, and weather stations worldwide for its monthly and seasonal forecasts.
According to Copernicus Director Carlo Buontempo, it is crucial to monitor and address these trends in order to mitigate the impact of climate change. Despite temperature variations associated with natural cycles like El Niño, the continuous increase in greenhouse gases’ concentrations is trapping extra energy in the ocean and atmosphere, leading to global temperatures pushing towards new records. As such, efforts must be made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to cleaner sources of energy in order to prevent further damage to our planet.