Preliminary data from the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service has revealed that Sunday, July 21 was the hottest day ever recorded. The global average surface air temperature reached 17.09 degrees Celsius (62.76 degrees Fahrenheit), surpassing the previous record of 17.08 degrees Celsius (62.74 degrees Fahrenheit) set last July.
Large areas of the United States, Europe, and Russia experienced intense heatwaves, contributing to the record-breaking temperature. Carlo Buontempo, director of the Copernicus service, noted that the start of this week might surpass Sunday’s record as the extreme heat continues. “When you have these peaks, they tend to cluster together,” he explained.
The recent data highlights a concerning trend, with Buontempo pointing out, “What is remarkable is how different the temperature of the last 13 months is with respect to the previous records.” Since June 2023, each month has been the hottest on record for its respective month.
Scientists are warning that 2024 could exceed 2023 as the hottest year on record, driven by climate change and the recently ended El Nino weather phenomenon. Buontempo added, “As a consequence of the increasing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere — we are bound to see new records being broken in the next few months, in the next few years.”
Environmental advocates have long urged global leaders to phase out fossil fuels to mitigate the catastrophic effects of climate change, which include more frequent and severe heatwaves.