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Story of the Week
‘Era of global boiling has arrived,’ says UN chief as July set to be hottest month on record
Head of World Meteorological Organization also warns ‘climate action is not a luxury but a must’ as temperatures soar
Source: WMO Press Release, July 2023 is set to be the hottest month on record, July 27, 2023
The era of global warming has ended and “the era of global boiling has arrived”, the UN secretary general, António Guterres, has said after scientists confirmed July was on track to be the world’s hottest month on record.
“Climate change is here. It is terrifying. And it is just the beginning,” Guterres said. “It is still possible to limit global temperature rise to 1.5C [above pre-industrial levels], and avoid the very worst of climate change. But only with dramatic, immediate climate action.”
Guterres’s comments came after scientists confirmed on Thursday that the past three weeks have been the hottest since records began and July is on track to be the hottest month ever recorded.
Global temperatures this month have shattered records, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the EU’s Copernicus Earth observation programme, stoked by the burning of fossil fuels and spurring violent weather.
The steady rise in global average temperatures, driven by pollution that traps sunlight and acts like a greenhouse around the Earth, has made weather extremes worse.
“Humanity is in the hot seat,” Guterres told a press conference on Thursday. “For vast parts of North America, Asia, Africa and Europe, it is a cruel summer. For the entire planet, it is a disaster. And for scientists, it is unequivocal – humans are to blame.
“All this is entirely consistent with predictions and repeated warnings. The only surprise is the speed of the change. Climate change is here, it is terrifying, and it is just the beginning. The era of global warming has ended; the era of global boiling has arrived.”
Guterres urged politicians to take swift action. “The air is unbreathable, the heat is unbearable, and the level of fossil fuel profits and climate inaction is unacceptable. Leaders must lead. No more hesitancy, no more excuses, no more waiting for others to move first. There is simply no more time for that.
Click here to access the entire article as originally posted on The Guardian website.
‘Era of global boiling has arrived,’ says UN chief as July set to be hottest month on record by Ajit Niranjan, Climate Science, The Guardian, July 27, 2023
Articles posted on Facebook
Sunday, July 23, 2023
- Climate records tumble, leaving Earth in uncharted territory - scientists A series of climate records on temperature, ocean heat, and Antarctic sea ice have alarmed some scientists who say their speed and timing is unprecedented. by Georgina Rannard, Erwan Rivault & Jana Tauschinski, Science, BBC News, July 22, 2023
- The Financial Sector Is Failing to Estimate Climate Risk, Say Two Groups in the UK Economic models have been slow to grasp the potential damage of warming, which means companies and consumers often don’t realize their investments may be in danger. by Dan Gearino, Fossil Fuels, Inside Climate News, July 22, 2023
- Arctic heat is coming our way. And fast!, Dave Borlace, "Just have a Think" on Youtube, July 23, 2023;
- Heatwave set to be Greece’s longest as extreme weather continues in Europe Country braces for hottest July weekend in 50 years as firefighters battle 79 forest blazes by Sammy Gecsoyler, World, BBC News, July 21, 2023
Monday, July 24, 2023
- ‘Biblical proportions’: 3 months’ worth of rainfall floods Nova Scotia, forcing evacuations as crews search for missing people by Zenebou Sylla & Nouran Salahieh, Americas, CNN, July 23, 2023
- Washington governor says 'the climate change bomb has gone off' as West Coast bakes "What the scientific community is telling us now, is that the Earth is screaming at us," said the Washington governor. "We need to stop using fossil fuels. That is the only solution to this massive assault on humanity." by Jessica Corbett, AlterNet, July 23, 2023
- Why aren’t we more scared of the climate crisis? It’s complicated Psychologists say we aren’t designed to remain in a high state of fear for long. by Maggie Mertens, Environment, The Guardian, July 22, 2023
- What is happening in the Atlantic Ocean to the AMOC? by Stefan Rahmstorf, RealClimate, July 24, 2023
Tuesday, July 25, 2023
- World's biggest permafrost crater in Russia’s Far East thaws as planet warms by Lucy Papachristou, Environment, Reuters, July 22, 2023
- Powerful Typhoon Doksuri threatens the Philippines and Taiwan After three years of drought, Taiwan desperately needs rain — but it could do without flooding and destructive wind. by Jeff Masters & Bob Henson, Eye on the Storm, Yale Climate Connections, July 24, 2023
- At a glance - How do we know more CO2 is causing warming? by John Mason & Baerbel Winkler, Skeptical Science, July 25, 2023
- Scientists detect sign that a crucial ocean current is near collapse by Sarah Kaplan, Environment, Washington Post, July 25, 2023
Wednesday, July 26, 2023
- Canadian wildfires burning land at record pace Two firefighters and a pilot have died this month as blazes rage across the country. by Ally J. Levine, Nia Williams & Prinz Magtulis, Reuters, July 24, 2023
- ‘No one wants to be right about this’: climate scientists’ horror and exasperation as global predictions play out As the northern hemisphere burns, experts feel deep sadness – and resentment – while dreading what lies ahead this Australian summer, Opinion by Multiple Australian Scientists, Comment is Free, The Guardian, July 24, 2023
- In hot water: South Florida ocean tops 100 degrees; could be world record by Ian Livingston & Jason Samenow, Weather, The Washington Post, July 25, 2023
- Climate change leaves fingerprints on July heat waves around the globe, study says by Seth Borenstein, Climate & Environment, AP/Los Angeles Times, July 25, 2023
Thursday, July 27, 2023
- Climate scientists debunk denial myths ft. @ClimateAdam, YouTube Video, July 25, 2023
- Extreme heat is particularly hard on older adults, and an aging population and climate change are putting ever more people at risk by Deborah Carr, Giacomo Falchetta & Ian Sue Wing, Health, The Conversation US, July 25, 2023
- ‘Battle plan’: How the far right would dismantle climate programs by Scott Waldman, Climatewire, E&E News, July, 26, 2023
- Joe Biden must declare a climate emergency. And he must do so now Biden had the last opportunity of any president to keep the world under 1.5C of heating. Instead he is squandering time we do not have Opinion by Peter Kalmus, Comment is Free, The Guardian Australia, July 27, 2023
Friday July 28, 2023
- Climate Lawsuits Are Becoming Key Drivers of Change as Courts Tie Policy to Human Rights A growing percentage of litigation has been filed in the Global South, with plaintiffs arguing they have a right to adequate climate policy. by Julia Conley, Common Dreams, July 27, 2023
- What “record-breaking heat” actually means Temperature records are falling around the world, but those records aren’t equally meaningful. by Umair Irfan, Climate, Vox, July 26, 2023
- Exposure to extreme heat and pollution may double risk of a deadly heart attack, study shows Air pollution report: 90% of countries do not have 'healthy' air by Jen Christensen, Health, CNN, July 24, 2023
- ‘Vicious cycle’: Heat waves ramp up U.S. burning of fossil fuels Americans, cranking up their air conditioners, are helping to break summertime records for daily consumption of natural gas, a contributor to climate change by Timothy Puko, Climate, Washington Post, July 28, 2023
Saturday July 29, 2023
- ‘Era of global boiling has arrived,’ says UN chief as July set to be hottest month on record Head of World Meteorological Organization also warns ‘climate action is not a luxury but a must’ as temperatures soar by Ajit Niranjan, Climate Science, The Guardian, July 27, 2023
- Climate Change Lawsuits More Than Double in 5 Years, UN Report Finds by Cristen Hemingway Jaynes, Climate, EcoWatch, July 27, 2023
- Removing carbon from Earth's atmosphere may not 'fix' climate change Changes to atmospheric circulation caused by global warming may persist for centuries after carbon dioxide concentrations decrease. by Tereza Pultarova, Science & Astronomy, Space Magazine, July 28, 2023
- South Korea Emerges As Key Partner for America’s Energy Transition More than a third of all manufacturing investments under the Inflation Reduction Act went to South Korean firms, but the country struggles to ramp up clean energy projects domestically. by June Kim, Clean Energy, Inside Climate News, July 24, 2023
