The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a UN body, warned this Thursday that the year 2023 was the hottest year on record based on temperatures measured from January to October and that the use of fossil fuels must be reduced if this is mitigated global warming and its harmful effects.
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In a report released on the opening day of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, the United Nations weather agency said the average temperature this year is about 1.4 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Commenting on the data in the report, WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas recalled that at COP21, held in Paris in 2015, it was agreed to limit the increase in global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
“With a full month to go before the end of the year, data already suggests that 2023 will be the hottest year in human history,” it said @antonioguterres
“Today’s WMO #StateofClimate The report shows that we are in big trouble. Managers have to get us out of there,”#COP28��https://t.co/CcFFVvTKeB pic.twitter.com/OkdyC5drka— World Meteorological Organization (@WMO)
November 30, 2023
The expert emphasized that humanity can no longer return to the climate of the 20th century, but must continue to work to prevent deterioration, as shown by current developments with an increase in floods, forest fires, melting glaciers and heat waves.
He explained that the El Niño climate event could push temperatures above 1.5 degrees Celsius next year by warming the Pacific Ocean. He assured that this increase would be achieved at least temporarily. He added that it will be permanently registered over the next decade.
2023 is a cacophony of broken records
Until next year#COP28��
��https://t.co/W0mzun8Xxi pic.twitter.com/2IZn4ACYsm— World Meteorological Organization (@WMO)
November 30, 2023
Taalas noted the urgency for governments to make and stick to concrete agreements, expressing that the world is “heading toward 2.5 or 3 degrees of warming.”
In his opinion, this will have very negative effects in the destruction of life and food. He made it clear that sea levels will rise “over the next few thousand years.”
He stressed that amid this uncertainty he sees signs of hope, as many governments are placing emphasis on switching to renewable energy and producing more electric cars, which will help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and therefore environmental heat that stores this gas.
He suggested to world leaders attending COP28 that they reduce the consumption of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas and thereby reduce carbon dioxide emissions.