By Akinsuroju Olubunmi
June 2024: Hottest month Globally, Says EU
June 2024 has set a new record as the hottest June globally, according to the EU’s climate monitor. This marks the culmination of half a year filled with extreme weather events, from floods to heatwaves.
Every month since June 2023 has shattered its own temperature record, leading to a 13-month streak of unprecedented global heat, reported the Copernicus Climate Change Service. “This is more than a statistical oddity; it signifies a major and ongoing shift in our climate,” said Carlo Buontempo, the service director.
He emphasized that even if this streak ends, new records will continue to be broken as long as humanity continues to emit heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere. The global average temperature for June surpassed the previous record set in 2023, highlighting the year’s climate extremes.
The scorching heat has affected regions from India to Saudi Arabia, the United States, and Mexico. Meanwhile, relentless rain has caused extensive flooding in Kenya, China, Brazil, Afghanistan, Russia, and France. Wildfires have ravaged Greece and Canada, and Hurricane Beryl became the earliest category five Atlantic hurricane on record, impacting several Caribbean islands.
Julien Nicolas, a senior scientist at C3S, pointed out that the record-breaking temperatures coincide with El Nino, a natural phenomenon that contributes to global heat. However, this was not the sole factor.
Ocean temperatures have also been reaching new highs, with record sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic, Northern Pacific, and Indian Oceans contributing to the soaring global heat. Sea surface temperatures have hit 15 consecutive months of new highs, an occurrence Nicolas described as “striking.”
Oceans, covering 70% of Earth’s surface, absorb 90% of the extra heat associated with rising climate-warming emissions, impacting air temperature and global average temperature.
Nicolas noted that the world is transitioning into a La Nina phase, which has a cooling effect. “We can expect global air temperature to decrease in the next few months,” he said. However, if record sea surface temperatures persist, 2024 could still be warmer than 2023.
Global air temperatures in the 12 months leading to June 2024 were the highest on record, averaging 1.64°C above pre-industrial levels, according to Copernicus. Although this doesn’t breach the 1.5°C warming limit agreed in the Paris Agreement, Copernicus reported an 80% chance that annual average temperatures will temporarily exceed this mark within the next five years.
June 2024: Hottest month Globally, Says EU