The world experienced the hottest day ever in July 2023, making it one of four climate records broken this summer, according to scientists. According to the European climate monitoring service Copernicus, the average global temperature soared past 17 degrees Celsius, reaching a scorching 17.08 degrees Celsius on July 6. This extraordinary day now holds the title of the hottest day ever recorded, surpassing a previous global record set back in 2016, as reported by the BBC. ALSO READ: Climate change could erode 7% of Rwanda’s GDP by 2050 – report Apart from this record-breaking day, several other extreme climate milestones have been surpassed this summer, including the hottest June ever recorded globally, extreme marine heatwaves, and a record-low in Antarctic sea ice. Though these events are undoubtedly concerning, scientists find it challenging to immediately attribute them directly to climate change. Dr. Paulo Ceppi, a climate science lecturer at Imperial College London, says, The Earth is in uncharted territory, highlighting the impact of global warming resulting from fossil fuel consumption and the influence of the first El Niño since 2018, a naturally occurring weather system that brings warm water to the surface in the tropical Pacific, elevating global air temperatures. ALSO READ: How climate change effects are leaving farmers vulnerable ALSO READ: Climate crisis threatens Africa’s development – Kagame Scientists emphasize that the continuous emissions from burning fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and gas are the primary drivers behind the planet's warming trend. Hottest June In June 2023, the average global temperature was a startling 1.47 degrees Celsius higher than the typical June in the pre-industrial era. While predicting the global temperature for the next decade remains challenging, scientists unanimously agree that the Earth's temperatures show no signs of cooling down. Extreme marine heatwaves The global average ocean temperature has broken records for May, June, and July, creeping perilously close to the highest sea surface temperature ever recorded in 2016, according to researchers. ALSO READ: A look at Rwanda's measures to mitigate climate change effects Scientists are expressing concern over extreme heat in the Northern Atlantic Ocean, with Daniela Schmidt, Prof of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol, remarking on an unexpected marine heatwave in this region. While directly linking this heatwave to climate change remains complex, ongoing research seeks to unravel its connections. Nonetheless, it is evident that the world has experienced significant warming, with the oceans absorbing most of the excess heat from the atmosphere. Record low Antarctic sea-ice Antarctica is experiencing a record-low in sea-ice coverage for July, with an area around ten times the size of the UK missing compared to the 1981-2010 average. Scientists are alarmed by this dramatic reduction and are working to understand its exact link to climate change. Dr. Caroline Holmes at the British Antarctic Survey explains that a warming world could be reducing Antarctic sea-ice levels, but the extent of the current decline may also be influenced by local weather conditions or ocean currents. Dr. Holmes emphasizes that this is not merely a record being broken; it is a record being shattered by a considerable margin. A ‘climate collapse’? As we progress into 2024, scientists predict that more of these alarming records will likely be broken, causing further concerns. However, Dr. Friederike Otto, a climate scientist from Imperial College London, urges against labeling the current situation as a climate collapse or runaway warming. Instead, she emphasizes that we have entered a new era, and there is still time to secure a liveable future for many if we take urgent action.
