June 2023 was the hottest ever, with more heat records to come

The Hottest June on Record: A Report on Global Temperature

According to data released by multiple agencies – including NASA’s Global Institute for Space Studies, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Berkeley Earth, and the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) – June 2023 was the hottest June on record, topping the previous record from 2020 by 0.13 degrees Celsius. 

June’s global average (16.55 degrees Celsius) was 1.05 degrees Celsius above the 20^th century average, marking the first time that a summer month was more than a degree above the normal range, and leading experts worldwide to predict that 2023 will most likely be the hottest year on record.

Multiple factors

While anthropogenic climate change undoubtedly played a major role in this unprecedented rise in temperatures over both land and oceans, the intensifying El Niño pattern has clearly started to contribute to widespread warming too, although its full impact will probably be seen only next year. 

Moreover, another major factor leading to record-breaking heat was the exceptional, widespread warming of the eastern and tropical North Atlantic Ocean, caused by weaker than usual subtropical high pressure that led to lighter trade winds which did not allow the cooler water to move up to the surface of the tropical North Atlantic Basin. 

In addition, there was less airborne dust from the Sahara Desert moving westward over the tropical Atlantic in June. Since dust usually reflects part of the Sun’s energy, June’s anomalously low amount of dust-laden air has likely contributed to warmer than average water in the tropical North Atlantic. 

Global warming impacts

However, as Berkeley Earth climate scientist Zeke Hausfather argues, while El Niño and its cooling counterpart La Niña, along other non-anthropogenic factors, “have a big impact on year-to-year temperatures, their effects are much smaller over the long run than human-caused warming.”

“Back in 1998, the world had a super El Niño event with record global temperatures; today the temperatures of 1998 would be an unusually cool year. Human-driven climate change adds a permanent super El Niño worth of heat to the atmosphere every decade.”

“Until we stop burning fossil fuels, this will only get worse. Heat records will keep getting broken, people and ecosystems are already in many cases beyond what they are able to deal with,” concluded Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at the Imperial College London.

More about climate change 

Climate change refers to the long-term alteration of temperature and typical weather patterns in a place. Climate change could refer to a particular location or the planet as a whole. 

Anthropogenic factors

Industrial activities and deforestation have rapidly increased the concentration of greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere. These gases include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), which trap heat from the sun and cause global warming. This human-caused acceleration of greenhouse gas emissions is often referred to as the enhanced greenhouse effect.

Global warming

This refers to the long-term increase in Earth’s average temperature. While weather can vary greatly in different regions and during different seasons, global warming shows a trend of increasing temperatures over decades or more. The past five years have been the warmest on record since the late 19th century.

Impacts

The impacts of climate change are vast and potentially catastrophic. These include increased frequency and severity of weather events such as floods, droughts, and storms; sea-level rise; shifts in ecosystems and wildlife populations; increased heat-related illnesses and diseases; and economic consequences.

Mitigation and adaptation

Mitigation strategies are efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or enhance the sinks that absorb these gases. This could involve switching to renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency, or protecting and restoring forests. 

Adaptation refers to adjustments in systems in response to climate change and its effects, which could include building flood defenses, developing drought-tolerant crops, or improving infrastructure to withstand extreme weather.

International cooperation

Climate change is a global problem that requires a global solution. Efforts to address climate change require international cooperation, as seen in agreements like the Paris Agreement, where nations pledge to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, and aim for 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels.

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By Andrei Ionescu, Earth.com Staff Writer

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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning
   • Target 13.a: Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to a goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion annually by 2020 from all sources to address the needs of developing countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation and fully operationalize the Green Climate Fund through its capitalization as soon as possible
   • Target 13.b: Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth, and local and marginalized communities

   The article discusses the record-breaking temperatures in June 2023, highlighting the impacts of climate change. This aligns with SDG 13, which focuses on taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

   The targets mentioned in the article include strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters (Target 13.1), integrating climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning (Target 13.2), improving education and awareness on climate change (Target 13.3), implementing financial commitments for developing countries (Target 13.a), and promoting capacity-building in least developed countries and small island developing States (Target 13.b).

   No specific indicators are mentioned in the article, but indicators related to these targets could include the number of countries with climate change adaptation plans, the amount of financial support provided to developing countries for climate action, and the number of people educated on climate change mitigation and adaptation.

2. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements
   • Target 15.2: By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests, and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally
   • Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity, and protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species

   The article mentions the impacts of climate change on ecosystems and wildlife populations. This connects to SDG 15, which focuses on protecting, restoring, and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.

   The targets mentioned in the article include ensuring the conservation and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems (Target 15.1), promoting sustainable forest management and halting deforestation (Target 15.2), and taking urgent action to reduce habitat degradation and protect threatened species (Target 15.5).

   No specific indicators are mentioned in the article, but indicators related to these targets could include the extent of forest area protected and restored, the number of species protected from extinction, and the reduction in habitat degradation.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: earth.com

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