The warmest January on record
The year 2024 has started on a worrying note in terms of climate change. According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), last January was the warmest on record. The average surface air temperature in January was 13.14 ºC globally, exceeding by 0.70 ºC the average for January during the period between 1991 and 2020. In addition, this temperature beats 0.12 ºC the previous record recorded in January 2020. This highlights the constant increase in global temperature and the impact of climate change.
A consecutive record
This is not an isolated case. According to C3S, this is the eighth consecutive month in which the previous record for that month of the year has been surpassed. In Europe, temperatures in January were well above the average of the last three decades in the south of the continent, while they were below in the north. Above-normal temperatures were also observed in other regions such as Canada, North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia.
Variability in precipitation
In addition to temperatures, precipitation has also shown variability in the month of January. In some regions of Europe and North America, precipitation was above average, while in other regions such as southeastern Spain and the United Kingdom, precipitation was below normal. This variability in precipitation has a direct impact on the availability of water and the risk of forest fires.
The importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Samantha Burgess, Deputy Director of C3S, has highlighted the importance of taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. According to Burgess, rapid reductions in emissions are the only way to stop the increase in global temperature. This implies changes in our consumption habits and energy policies to promote renewable and sustainable energy sources.
In 2023, the hottest year
It should be remembered that 2023 was the hottest exercise globally since temperature measurements began in 1850. With anomalous temperatures and broken records, it is clear that climate change is a reality that we cannot ignore. Immediate action is needed to mitigate its effects and preserve our planet for future generations.
