In 2023, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released a report indicating that numerous climate change indicators, such as greenhouse gas levels, surface temperatures, ocean heat, and sea levels, reached record highs. These changes led to extreme weather events like heatwaves, floods, droughts, wildfires, and intense tropical cyclones, causing widespread damage and economic losses. The average global temperature in 2023 was the warmest on record, nearing the 1.5-degree Celsius limit set by the Paris Agreement. Over 90% of the ocean experienced heatwave conditions, and significant ice loss occurred in Antarctic sea ice and global glaciers. The report underscores the urgent need to address the climate crisis, with UN officials warning that continued reliance on fossil fuels will exacerbate climate chaos.
Source – CGTN