Title: Summer of 2023 Marks Hottest on Record, Resulting in Catastrophic Wildfires and Increased Mortality Rates
Subtitle: Almost Entire World Population Suffers From Human-Induced Climate Change, According to New Study
Date: September 8, 2023
Sources: Reuters, Climate Central
SINGAPORE – A new peer-reviewed research report published on Thursday reveals that the summer of 2023 has been the hottest on record, with nearly all of the world’s population experiencing higher temperatures due to human-induced climate change. The report, conducted by Climate Central, examined temperatures in 180 countries and 22 territories, concluding that 98% of the global population faced higher temperatures made at least twice more likely by carbon dioxide pollution.
The devastating impact of the heatwaves experienced during this summer has resulted in catastrophic wildfires and spikes in mortality rates. North America and southern Europe, in particular, have suffered from prolonged heatwaves, leading to unprecedented wildfires. Furthermore, July 2023 was classified as the hottest month ever recorded, and average August temperatures were 1.5 degrees Celsius higher than pre-industrial levels.
Andrew Pershing, Climate Central’s vice president for science, expressed concern over the universal impact of global warming during the past three months. He stated, “Virtually no one on Earth escaped the influence of global warming during the past three months.” Pershing added, “In every country we could analyze, including the southern hemisphere, where this is the coolest time of year, we saw temperatures that would be difficult – and in some cases nearly impossible – without human-caused climate change.”
The study utilized Climate Central’s Climate Shift Index, which measures the likelihood of heat events being caused by climate change by comparing observed temperatures with models that remove greenhouse gas emissions’ influence. The findings revealed that as many as 6.2 billion people experienced at least one day of average temperatures that were at least five times more likely due to climate change.
Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment, emphasized that the heatwaves witnessed in North America and southern Europe would not have been possible without climate change. She stated, “We have looked at isolated heatwaves. They have not been made five times more likely. They have been made infinitely more likely because they would not have occurred without climate change.”
The alarming report underscores the urgent need for global action to combat climate change and mitigate its effects. Governments and individuals must prioritize reducing carbon dioxide emissions and embracing sustainable practices to prevent further damage to the planet and safeguard future generations.
Reporting by David Stanway in Singapore and Ali Withers in Copenhagen; Editing by Gerry Doyle