In 2023, Earth recorded its hottest year ever, making the decade from 2014 to 2023 the warmest in history, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The UN agency released its annual climate report on Tuesday, warning of the urgent need to address the rising global temperatures.
The melting rate of glaciers also reached a record high last year, with more than 90 percent of oceans experiencing heat waves at some point during the year. This unprecedented ocean warming, loss of Antarctic sea ice, and retreating glaciers are particularly concerning, with severe negative consequences expected for marine ecosystems and coral reefs.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the report as a “red alert” for the world, stressing that climate change goes beyond just rising temperatures. The planet is on the brink of a crisis, with the average surface temperature in 2023 reaching 1.45 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, dangerously close to the critical 1.5 degree threshold set in the Paris climate accords.
Andrea Celeste Saulo, head of the WMO, underscored that climate change is an emergency that requires immediate action. The organization’s report serves as a wake-up call for global action to mitigate the impacts of climate change and protect the planet for future generations.
