The world just experienced its hottest April on record, continuing an 11-month streak of record-breaking temperatures, according to the European Union’s climate change monitoring service. The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) reported that each month since June 2023 has been the hottest on record, with April being no exception.
The global average temperature for the past 12 months was the highest on record, surpassing the average in the pre-industrial period by 1.61 degrees Celsius. This alarming trend has raised concerns among scientists about whether human activity has triggered a tipping point in the climate system.
Julien Nicolas, a senior climate scientist at C3S, stated, “I think many scientists have asked the question whether there could be a shift in the climate system.” Greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels are identified as the primary cause of climate change, while the El Nino phenomenon has also contributed to the rising temperatures in recent months.
The data from April confirmed that climate change led to extreme weather events, such as a deadly heatwave in the Sahel region. Climate scientist Hayley Fowler warned that the world is dangerously close to exceeding the 1.5 degrees Celsius limit set by the 2015 Paris Agreement.
While technically the 1.5C target has not been surpassed yet, some scientists believe it is no longer achievable and urge governments to accelerate efforts to reduce CO2 emissions. The urgency to address climate change is evident as the world faces the consequences of rising temperatures and extreme weather events.