Global temperatures reach unprecedented heights

This summer, temperatures across both oceans and land have shattered previous heat records by a significant margin, according to a report by Berkeley Earth, a non-profit American organization.

According to Report, which cites the organization's meteorological data, which dates back to 1850, reveals that 63 countries experienced their hottest June on record in 2024. Alarmingly, this marks the twelfth consecutive month where the average land and sea temperatures have surpassed the monthly average from 1850 to 1900 by at least 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The fact that twelve months in a row are warmer than the same months in the previous year is an extreme situation, warns Mikael Tjernström, a professor in the Department of Meteorology at Stockholm University.

He adds that if the red warning flags continue their steep ascent along the curve for another 15 years, the planet will find itself at a level of 1.4 degrees [compared to the current 1.2 degrees].

The Paris Agreement, a global treaty aimed at combating climate change, set a goal to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

One of the primary drivers behind the record-breaking heat of the past twelve months is the El Niño phenomenon. This recurring event occurs when climatic and hydrological factors interact in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, influencing temperatures in many parts of the world.

The deviation brought about by this year's El Niño is historically significant, surpassed only by the super-El Niño event of 1878-1888.