Climate monitor reports that April was the hottest on record worldwide

The Earth is sweltering under an 11-month warming streak, with global air and sea surface temperatures soaring to unprecedented levels, according to the European Union’s climate change monitoring service.

April marked the hottest month on record, continuing a streak of record-breaking temperatures since June 2023. Despite a weakened El Nino, typically responsible for warming the Pacific Ocean and increasing global temperatures, researchers attribute the extreme warmth to human-induced climate change.

The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) reported that April was 1.58 degrees Celsius (2.84 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than estimates from the pre-industrial period of 1850-1900. This trend of rising temperatures is expected to continue as greenhouse gas concentrations trap extra energy in the atmosphere and oceans.

The global average temperatures over the past 12 months have surpassed the crucial 1.5C (2.7F) warming threshold set by the 2015 Paris climate agreement. Despite international efforts to phase out fossil fuels in favor of renewable energy, the world is not on track to meet the long-term goals of the agreement, including capping global warming at 1.5C.

Weather extremes were observed across the globe in April, with Eastern Europe and parts of Africa experiencing record heatwaves. Meanwhile, countries like Pakistan, southern Brazil, and East African nations faced deadly flooding. Sea surface temperatures also hit record highs for the 13th consecutive month, posing a threat to marine life and contributing to a hotter atmosphere.

As the Earth continues to endure this unprecedented warming streak, the need for urgent action to combat climate change becomes increasingly apparent.