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A new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) highlights record-breaking levels of greenhouse gases, surface temperatures, ocean heat and acidification, sea level rise, Antarctic sea ice cover, and glacier retreat in 2023.
The WMO State of the Global Climate 2023 report reveals that extreme weather events such as heatwaves, floods, droughts, wildfires, and intensifying tropical cyclones disrupted millions of lives and caused significant economic losses.
Key findings include:
- 2023 was the warmest year on record, with the global average near-surface temperature reaching 1.45°C above the pre-industrial baseline.
- Nearly one-third of the global ocean experienced a marine heatwave on an average day, harming ecosystems and food systems.
- Global reference glaciers suffered their largest ice loss on record, driven by extreme melt in western North America and Europe.
- Antarctic sea ice extent hit a record low, with the maximum extent at the end of winter 1 million km2 below the previous record.
- The number of acutely food-insecure people worldwide more than doubled, reaching 333 million in 2023.
Despite these alarming trends, there is a glimmer of hope in the surge of renewable energy generation. In 2023, renewable capacity additions increased by almost 50% from 2022, totaling 510 gigawatts.
The report underscores the urgent need for accelerated climate action, with climate leaders gathering at the Copenhagen Climate Ministerial on 21-22 March to enhance countries' Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and secure ambitious financing agreements at COP29.
"Climate Action is currently being hampered by a lack of capacity to deliver and use climate services to inform national mitigation and adaptation plans, especially in developing countries. We need to increase support for National Meteorological and Hydrological Services to be able to provide information services to ensure the next generation of Nationally Determined Contributions are based on science," said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.
The State of the Global Climate report was released ahead of World Meteorological Day on 23 March and will inform discussions at the Copenhagen climate ministerial meeting. It sets the stage for a new climate action campaign by the UN Development Programme and WMO to be launched on 21 March.
G-COVE
general@g-cove.com
