The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has sounded a dire warning, issuing a “red alert” as new data reveals that every major climate indicator reached record-breaking levels in 2023. The unprecedented findings highlight the intensifying climate crisis and its far-reaching impacts on global communities.
In its latest report on the state of the global climate, the WMO detailed alarming increases across a spectrum of climate change indicators. “Greenhouse gas concentrations, global surface temperatures, ocean heat content and acidification, sea levels, and the rate of glacial retreat have all surpassed previous records,” announced Celeste Saulo, WMO Secretary-General, during a press conference in Geneva.
“This annual report shows that the climate crisis is the defining challenge that humanity faces,” Saulo emphasized. “It is closely intertwined with the inequality crisis, as witnessed by growing food insecurity, population displacement, and biodiversity loss.”
The report underscores the tangible consequences of climate change experienced around the world in 2023. Heatwaves, floods, droughts, wildfires, and rapidly intensifying tropical cyclones caused widespread devastation, affecting millions of lives and resulting in economic losses amounting to billions of dollars.
The WMO confirmed that 2023 stands as the warmest year on record, with the average global temperature reaching 1.45 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, within a margin of uncertainty of 0.12 degrees Celsius. This significant rise edges perilously close to the 1.5-degree threshold outlined in the Paris Agreement, beyond which scientists warn of catastrophic and irreversible climate impacts.
“The window of opportunity to prevent the worst impacts of climate change is rapidly closing,” Saulo cautioned. “Immediate and ambitious action is essential to mitigate emissions and adapt to the changes that are already underway.”
The report calls for unified global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance climate resilience, and support vulnerable communities disproportionately affected by climate change. The WMO’s findings are set to inform discussions at upcoming international climate negotiations, where leaders will grapple with the urgent need to accelerate climate action.
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WMO issues red alert over record-breaking climate change indicators
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