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Scientists say August was Earth's hottest month : NPR
NPR • • general
Key Points:
- August 2024 was the hottest month on record globally, with temperatures averaging 1.65°C above pre-industrial levels, surpassing the 1.5°C threshold set by the Paris Agreement, driven by human-caused climate change and a strong El Niño event.
- The Northern Hemisphere experienced its hottest summer ever recorded, with the U.S. Lower 48 states seeing summer temperatures exceed those of the 1936 Dust Bowl peak, breaking nearly century-old heat records.
- Ocean temperatures also hit record highs in August, tying previous records for the warmest month and setting a new record for the hottest day in global seas.
- Scientists emphasize that while El Niño contributes to the heat, the primary driver remains the burning of fossil fuels, which intensifies climate change and will continue to cause extreme heat events unless emissions are drastically reduced.
- Experts warn that without urgent action to curb fossil fuel use, global temperatures will keep rising, leading to more frequent and severe heat waves, storms, wildfires, and significant economic and health impacts worldwide.
