The period from June to August surpassed the previous temperature record set in 2023, according to the European Copernicus Service on Climate Change. In Lapland, Australia, Canada and the US, people suffered from heatwaves, floods, droughts and wildfires.
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This summer was one of extremes and danger. While these adjectives may seem exaggerated from a French perspective given the gloomy weather in France over the last few months (particularly in the north), on a global scale, the period from June to August was the hottest period ever recorded. Temperatures were 0.69°C above the 1991-2020 average, slightly surpassing the previous record set in 2023, according to the latest report from the European Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), published on Friday, September 6.
Across the globe, from Lapland to Australia, via China and the United States, countries have suffered from heatwaves, floods, droughts, and fires caused by man-made climate disruption. These calamities have affected millions of people, killed thousands, and caused billions of dollars in economic losses.
With an average temperature of 16.82°C, August 2024 tied with 2023 as the hottest August on record. It continued an almost unbroken series of 15 consecutive months setting temperature records – except July, which fell short in the Copernicus dataset, but not in others like the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. August was also the 13th month in 14 months to exceed pre-industrial averages by 1.5°C, the Paris Agreement’s most ambitious target.
“Even if it’s not all year round, we’re starting to live in a world at +1.5°C, a warming that’s harmful for humans and many ecosystems. This brings us closer to certain tipping points,” warned Davide Faranda, a climatologist at the Institut Pierre-Simon-Laplace.
Strong anomalies
This summer saw soaring temperatures across every continent. Australia experienced record-breaking temperatures in the middle of winter, reaching 41.6°C on the northwest coast. The country also just had its hottest August ever, as did Spain and some Chinese provinces. Japan and South Korea also endured historically scorching summers, on a par with 2023 levels. On July 7, more than 70 million Americans were under a heatwave alert, causing several deaths. In June, in Saudi Arabia, more than 1,300 people perished during the Mecca pilgrimage, where the thermometer reached 51.8°C
With information from Le Monde
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