By Marco Lopez
Last month was the warmest May on record globally. This is according to a report released today by the Copernicus Climate Change Services (C3S). This completes a 12-month streak of global average temperatures surpassing record values for the corresponding month.
This report comes as the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the UK’s Meteorological Office published a report highlighting the likelihood that one of the next five years will be the warmest of record, beating 2023.
In a statement by UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, he pointed out that the world is on track to surpass the 1.5°C limit.
“The truth is, the world is spewing emission so fast that by 2030 a far higher temperature raise will be all but guaranteed,” Guterres said.
He pointed out that global emissions need to be reduced by 9% yearly until 2030 to keep the hopes of 1.5 alive.
Guterres rightly pointed out that the ball is in humanity’s court, and what happens over the next years leading to 2030 will mean “the difference between life and death” for many small island developing states.
He commented, “The difference between 1.5 and 2 degrees could mean the difference between extinction and survival for some small island states and coastal communities. The difference between minimizing climate chaos or crossing dangerous tipping points.”
Copernicus Climate Change Service data in May 2024 shows the global average was at 1.52°C above the 1850-1900 industrial average.
Global average temperatures for the last 12 months are the highest on record, at 0.75°C above the 1991-2020 average and 1.63°C above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial average.
Twelve-month running mean anomalies of the global average surface air temperature relative to the 1850–1900 pre-industrial average, based on monthly values from January 1940 to May 2024. Data source: ERA5. Credit: C3S/ECMWF.
On June 6, a comprehensive analysis of other key climate indicators, such as sea surface temperatures and sea ice coverage will be released by C3S.
