In 2023, Earth experienced its hottest year on record, with the global thermometer crossing 1.48°C above the preindustrial benchmark. The increase in temperatures intensified heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires worldwide, and nearly half the year exceeded the 1.5°C limit. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that this year is just a preview of the catastrophic future if immediate action is not taken. The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) also reported that 2023 saw massive fires, extreme droughts, and unprecedented heatwaves across the planet, and predicted that the 12-month period ending in early 2024 would also exceed 1.5°C above the pre-industrial level.
The year also marked the beginning of a naturally occurring El Nino weather phenomenon, which is expected to worsen in 2024. Oceans experienced persistently high temperatures, leading to devastating marine heatwaves and the acceleration of ice shelf melting. Carbon dioxide and methane concentrations reached record levels, with methane being the second-largest contributor to global warming. In response to these alarming findings, climate experts and scientists are calling for a rapid reduction in fossil fuel use and the transition to net-zero to mitigate the impact of climate change.