A recent report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reveals that 2023 was a year of records in several climate aspects. This year has seen the highest levels of greenhouse gases, surface temperatures, ocean heat and ocean acidification, rising sea levels, decreasing sea ice in Antarctica and retreating glaciers.
Climate extremes such as heat waves, floods, droughts, forest fires and tropical cyclones have worsened rapidly, causing enormous economic losses and disruption to the lives of millions, according to the WMO’s “State of the Global Climate 2023” report.
2023 was the hottest year on record, with global average temperatures 1.45°C above pre-industrial levels, also marking the hottest decade on record.
“We are witnessing alarm bells across all major climate indicators… Some are not just peaking but surpassing all records, and these changes are accelerating,” said António Guterres, UN Secretary-General.
“The proximity of the 1.5°C limit established in the Paris Agreement has never been so evident,” highlighted Celeste Saulo, Secretary General of the WMO, declaring a “Red Alert” for the world.
“Climate change goes beyond temperatures. The events of 2023, such as unprecedented ocean heat, glacier retreat and ice loss in Antarctica, are particularly worrying,” Saulo added.
By 2023, nearly a third of the global oceans will experience daily maritime heatwaves, affecting essential ecosystems and food security. By the end of the year, more than 90% of the oceans had experienced heat waves at some point.
Global reference glaciers have recorded the greatest ice loss since 1950, with intense melting in North America and Europe.
The extent of sea ice in Antarctica was the lowest on record, 1 million km² below the previous record, equivalent to the combined size of France and Germany.
Celeste Saulo emphasized that the climate crisis is humanity’s greatest challenge, being intrinsically linked to the inequality crisis, as seen in growing food insecurity and population displacement.
Acute food insecurity has more than doubled since the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting 333 million people in 78 countries by 2023, exacerbated by climate extremes.
By 2023, renewable energy generation, driven by solar radiation, wind and the water cycle, has advanced significantly. Renewable capacity additions increased by almost 50% compared to 2022, reaching 510 GW, the highest rate in two decades.
At the Copenhagen climate ministerial meeting on March 21 and 22, global leaders and ministers will come together to discuss accelerated climate action, including improving Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by February 2025.
Saulo highlighted the need to strengthen National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, especially in developing countries, to better inform national mitigation and adaptation plans.
The report was released in time for World Meteorological Day on March 23 and comes ahead of the UN and WMO climate action campaign to be launched on March 21.
Dozens of experts and organizations contributed to the report, including the UN, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, Global Data and Analysis Centers and Regional Climate Centers, the World Climate Research Program (WCRP), Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) , the Global Cryosphere Watch and the Copernicus Climate Change Service operated by ECMWF.
Key messages from the report highlight:
– Greenhouse Gases: Concentrations of the main gases – carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide – reached new records in 2022 and continued to grow in 2023. CO2 levels are 50% higher than in the pre-industrial era.
– Temperature: 2023 was the hottest year in the 174-year observational record, with global average temperatures 1.45°C above the pre-industrial average of 1850-1900.
– Ocean Heat: The oceans have reached the highest level of heat on record, with marine heat waves covering 32% of the global ocean daily.
– Sea Level Rise: In 2023, global average sea level reached a record high in the satellite record, more than double the rate of rise in the 1990s.
– Cryosphere: The extent of sea ice in Antarctica has reached a historic low, and the loss of mass from ice sheets and glaciers is contributing to sea level rise.
– Extreme Climate Events: The year was marked by extreme events, including floods, tropical cyclones, heat waves and forest fires, with significant socioeconomic impacts.
– Socioeconomic Impacts: Climate risks have exacerbated challenges with food security and population displacement, worsening the vulnerability of populations already at risk.
– Climate Finance: Despite the increase in global climate-related financial flows, there is a significant financing gap to achieve mitigation and adaptation goals.
This WMO report highlights the urgency for more robust and coordinated climate action at a global level, signaling a turning point in the fight against climate change.
