Hottest July ever signals ‘era of global boiling has arrived’ says UN chief

July 2023 is set to be the warmest month ever recorded, with wildfires continuing to devastate regions in Southern Europe and North Africa. This alarming prediction was confirmed by top UN climate scientists. UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that unless there's a sudden mini-Ice Age, July 2023 will likely break all previous temperature records. He described the current climate situation as "terrifying" and highlighted the tragic consequences, such as children being affected by monsoon rains, families fleeing from wildfires, and workers succumbing to extreme heat.

In Geneva, experts from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the European Commission’s Copernicus Climate Change Service labeled the current conditions as "remarkable and unprecedented". They revealed that July has witnessed the hottest three-week period ever recorded. Ocean temperatures have also reached their highest levels for this time of year, a trend that has been observed since April's end.

The Secretary-General called for global action on emissions, climate adaptation, and climate finance. He emphasized that the era of global warming has transitioned to an "era of global boiling". He urged leaders, especially from the G20 nations responsible for 80% of global emissions, to intensify their climate actions. Upcoming events, such as the UN Climate Ambition Summit in September and the COP28 climate conference in November, are seen as pivotal moments for global climate action.

Guterres also highlighted the need for a surge in adaptation investments, especially in developing countries, to combat the impacts of climate change. He called on developed nations to fulfill their commitment to provide $100 billion annually for climate support in developing countries and to replenish the Green Climate Fund.

Insights from Other Sources:

• According to AP News, scientists have already calculated that July 2023 is the warmest month on record.
• S&P Global reports that severe heatwaves and wildfires have been observed from Australia to Canada, emphasizing the global impact of the temperature surge.
• CNBC cites data from the EU's Copernicus climate change service and the WMO, confirming the record-breaking temperatures of July.
• An analysis by Germany's Leipzig University, as reported by Nasdaq, found that July 2023 will shatter heat records, with this month's mean global temperature being unprecedented.