(Image source from: Canva.com)

Preliminary data analysis from the ERA5 dataset shows that July 21, 2024 was the hottest day on record on Earth, with a global average temperature of 17.09 °C. This unprecedented heat wave highlights the increasing impact of climate change on global temperatures. The ERA5 dataset, managed by the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), provides comprehensive climate and meteorological data dating back to 1940. This latest record surpasses the highest temperature ever recorded and highlights the ongoing trend of global warming. In July 2024, many parts of the world experienced a severe heat wave that helped break up the day. Areas such as southern Europe, Southeast Asia, North Africa and the United States are experiencing intense and prolonged heat waves, leading to extreme weather events such as wildfires in Greece, Canada and Algeria.

The United Nations and other climate organizations are monitoring the situation closely. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently warned that “humanity is in a bind” and stressed the need for urgent action to curb climate change. He described the current era as an “era of global boiling” that reflects the profound and immediate impact of rising temperatures. Climate scientists believe this record heat is due to a combination of natural climate change and the worsening effects of human greenhouse gas emissions. The continued rise in global temperatures is a clear sign of accelerating climate change, which is having serious consequences for ecosystems, human health and economies around the world. The record is also linked to an abnormal rise in sea surface temperatures around the world, contributing to the overall warming trend. Higher than normal temperatures have also been reported in Antarctica, which is currently in the winter season, adding to the global warming anomaly. With the world facing such extreme conditions, the need for effective climate mitigation and adaptation strategies is more important than ever.