July is set to become the hottest month on record globally, with extreme temperatures impacting vast areas of three continents and unprecedented ocean heating.
The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service and the World Meteorological Organization reported that this month will break records by a significant margin. The first 23 days of July saw an average temperature of 16.95 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous record set in 2019.
Climate scientists believe these are the warmest temperatures the planet has experienced in over 120,000 years. Human-caused climate change is the main driver of this extreme heat, emphasizing the urgency of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres declared that the era of global warming has ended and the era of “global boiling” has begun. This statement came after scientists confirmed that July was on track to be the hottest month on record, with global temperatures breaking previous records.
Climate change caused by the burning of fossil fuels has intensified extreme weather events worldwide. Guterres stressed the urgent need for immediate, dramatic climate action to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C and avert the worst consequences.
He called on political leaders to act swiftly and decisively to combat climate change, as humanity faces a critical and terrifying challenge.