Scientists predict that record temperatures will continue driving extreme weather worldwide.
April marked the 11th consecutive month with record global average surface temperatures, reaching 15.03°C, 0.67°C above the 1991-2020 average for the month, and 1.58°C above pre-industrial levels, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service.
Over the past year, northern latitudes and Antarctica have experienced heightened temperature extremes. Rising temperatures will exacerbate global weather patterns, leading to more frequent heatwaves, droughts, and floods.
Asia, particularly East Asia, grapples with heatwaves reaching 48°C, while regions like southern China, Kenya, and Brazil face deadly floods.
The global average temperature over the past 12 months was the highest on record, exceeding pre-industrial levels by 1.61°C, surpassing the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting temperature rises to 1.5°C.
The El Niño phenomenon, though waning, has contributed to warming sea surface temperatures, which hit a record high for April.
Carlo Buontempo, director of CCCS, warns that despite natural temperature fluctuations, increasing greenhouse gas concentrations will continue driving global temperatures to new records. While the 2015-2016 El Niño event caused 16 consecutive months of record temperatures, recent temperatures surpass even those highs. April saw “above-average” land temperatures in various regions, with Georgia experiencing nearly 5°C above average and Finland around 1.7°C below average.
Moreover, many areas experienced above-average rainfall, leading to floods in unexpected places like the United Arab Emirates and Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul state.
Porto Alegre faced record rainfall, causing the Guaíba river to reach its highest level in decades.
Kenya and China also faced devastating floods, highlighting the urgent need for climate action. Sir David King, chair of the Climate Crisis Advisory Group, stresses the alarming trend, emphasizing the necessity for immediate action despite El Niño’s influence.