Climate change is causing the world's temperature to rise by 1.5 degrees Celsius in 12 months.

2023 was the hottest year on record since 1850, due to human-induced climate change and El Niño – a weather pattern that warms surface waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean, pushing temperatures higher.

The intense heat caused serious wildfires in Chile earlier this month. Photo: Reuters

Matt Patterson, an atmospheric physicist at Oxford University, said: “This is a significant milestone, marking the first time we’ve seen the average global temperature over a 12-month period exceed pre-industrial levels by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius.”

The previous warmest January was in 2020, according to records from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) dating back to 1950.

Countries agreed at the United Nations climate talks in Paris in 2015 to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius, and set an even more ideal target of below 1.5 degrees Celsius, a level considered critical to prevent the most severe consequences.

The fact that the first 12 months exceeded 1.5 degrees Celsius does not mean the Paris target has been missed, as the UN agreement refers to the average global temperature over several decades.

However, some scientists say the 1.5°C target is no longer realistically achievable and are urging countries to act faster to cut CO2 emissions in order to avoid exceeding the target.

C3S Deputy Director Samantha Burgess said: “Rapidly reducing greenhouse gas emissions is the only way to stop global temperatures from rising.”

Denmark's Global Climate Policy Minister, Dan Jorgensen, said: "We are heading towards a catastrophe if we don't fundamentally change the way we produce and consume energy within the next few years. We don't have much time."

Every month since June 2023 has been the hottest month on record globally . American scientists say there is a one-third chance that 2024 will be even hotter than last year, and a 99% chance that it will rank among the five warmest years.

A heatwave is affecting several South American countries, a region currently experiencing summer in the Southern Hemisphere. Argentina endured a heatwave from January 21 to 31. Meanwhile, the heat caused wildfires that killed at least 131 people earlier this month in Chile.

Huy Hoang (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/bien-doi-khi-hau-khien-the-gioi-dat-muc-tang-15-do-c-lan-dau-tien-trong-12-thang-post284092.html