The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service has reported that the world experienced its warmest March on record, with temperatures averaging 14.14 degrees Celsius. This marks the 10th consecutive month of historic heat, with sea surface temperatures also reaching a new high. The month was 1.68C hotter than an average March between 1850-1900, the pre-industrial era reference period. Vast regions from Africa to Greenland experienced above-average temperatures during this time.
The primary cause of this record-breaking heat is greenhouse gas emissions from human activities. The C3S Deputy Director expressed concern over the long-term trend of these exceptional records, indicating rapid climate change. While the 1.5C limit set in the Paris Agreement has not been breached, the world is on borrowed time and very close to this threshold. With 2023 already standing as the hottest year on record, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns that the world may surpass the 1.5C mark in the early 2030s.
In addition to record-breaking land temperatures, ocean surface temperatures also set a new global record in March. Despite the waning El Nino climatic condition, the global sea surface temperature averaged 21.07C during the month, the highest ever recorded. Oceans play a crucial role in regulating the climate by absorbing 90 percent of excess heat resulting from greenhouse gas emissions. This absorption of heat affects the climate by producing more moisture in the atmosphere, leading to erratic weather patterns like strong winds and heavy rainfall.
The consequences of hotter seas extend beyond weather patterns to ecological impacts. Rising sea temperatures increase the likelihood of mass coral bleaching events, with marine scientists warning of a potential mass bleaching event in the Southern Hemisphere. Russia, Australia, Brazil, and France experienced extreme wet weather in March, with Russia facing some of its worst flooding in decades. It is crucial to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, stop deforestation, and transition to more sustainable practices to mitigate the impact of climate change.
The trend of record-breaking temperatures highlights the urgency of addressing climate change and transitioning to a more sustainable way of living. The continuous rise in temperatures underscores the need for immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prevent further environmental degradation. The consequences of climate change, such as extreme weather events and coral bleaching, are already being felt across the globe, emphasizing the need for a coordinated global response to address this pressing issue. Time is running out, and the world must take decisive action to safeguard the planet and future generations from the increasingly severe impacts of a warming climate.
