2023: A Record-Breaking Year for Global Climate Extremes

The WMO’s provisional State of the Global Climate report for 2023 has highlighted a significant climatic milestone, marking the year as the warmest on record, with global temperatures soaring 1.40 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by October’s end. This warming trend is evidenced in the polar regions by the unprecedented loss of Antarctic sea ice and with the Arctic region warming at a rate four times faster the global average. The report underscores the urgency for halving emissions by 2030 towards a net-zero future. NOAA’s analysis further corroborates these findings, with 2023 setting a new benchmark in NOAA’s 174-year climate record. The data reveals a continuous trend of record-breaking temperatures and extreme weather events, emphasizing the immediate need for comprehensive climate action and resilience building. 

Image credits: NOAA NCEI