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Climate change indicators reached record levels in 2023 - What the data indicate for 2024



Climate change indicators reached record levels in 2023

World Meteorological Organization: Climate change indicators reached record levels in 2023

Key messages

  • State of Global Climate report confirms 2023 as hottest year on record by clear margin

  • Records broken for ocean heat, sea level rise, Antarctic sea ice loss and glacier retreat

  • Extreme weather undermines socio-economic development

  • Renewable energy transition provides hope

  • Cost of climate inaction is higher than cost of climate action


A new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) shows that records were once again broken, and in some cases smashed, for greenhouse gas levels, surface temperatures, ocean heat and acidification, sea level rise, Antarctic sea ice cover and glacier retreat.


Heatwaves, floods, droughts, wildfires and rapidly intensifying tropical cyclones caused misery and mayhem, upending every-day life for millions and inflicting many billions of dollars in economic losses, according to the WMO State of the Global Climate 2023 report.



Global Mean Temperature Difference

Annual global mean temperature anomalies (relative to 1850–1900) from 1850 to 2023. Data are from six data sets


The WMO report confirmed that 2023 was the warmest year on record, with the global average near-surface temperature at 1.45 °Celsius (with a margin of uncertainty of ± 0.12 °C) above the pre-industrial baseline. It was the warmest ten-year period on record.


Never have we been so close – albeit on a temporary basis at the moment – to the 1.5° C lower limit of the Paris Agreement on climate change.” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo. “The WMO community is sounding the Red Alert to the world. 

Climate change is about much more than temperatures. What we witnessed in 2023, especially with the unprecedented ocean warmth, glacier retreat and Antarctic sea ice loss, is cause for particular concern,” she said.


On an average day in 2023, nearly one third of the global ocean was gripped by a marine heatwave, harming vital ecosystems and food systems. Towards the end of 2023, over 90% of the ocean had experienced heatwave conditions at some point during the year.


The global set of reference glaciers suffered the largest loss of ice on record (since 1950), driven by extreme melt in both western North America and Europe, according to preliminary data.

Antarctic sea ice extent was by far the lowest on record, with the maximum extent at the end of winter at 1 million km2 below the previous record year - equivalent to the size of France and Germany combined.


The climate crisis is THE defining challenge that humanity faces and is closely intertwined with the inequality crisis – as witnessed by growing food insecurity and population displacement, and biodiversity loss” said Celeste Saulo.


The number of people who are acutely food insecure worldwide has more than doubled, from 149 million people before the COVID-19 pandemic to 333 million people in 2023 (in 78 monitored countries by the World Food Programme). Weather and climate extremes may not be the root cause, but they are aggravating factors, according to the report.


Weather hazards continued to trigger displacement in 2023, showing how climate shocks undermine resilience and create new protection risks among the most vulnerable populations.


There is, however, a glimmer of hope.

Renewable energy generation, primarily driven by the dynamic forces of solar radiation, wind and the water cycle, has surged to the forefront of climate action for its potential to achieve decarbonization targets. In 2023, renewable capacity additions increased by almost 50% from 2022, for a total of 510 gigawatts (GW) – the highest rate observed in the past two decades.


Dozens of experts and partners contribute to the report, including UN organizations, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) and Global Data and Analysis Centers, as well as Regional Climate Centres, the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), the Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW), the Global Cryosphere Watch and Copernicus Climate Change Service operated by ECMWF.


What lays ahead concerning climate trends in 2024


And while the above data concern 2023, it does not appear that the forecasts for 2024 will be any different, according to Copernicus.


To be specific, the data showed that February 2024 was 1.77°C warmer than pre-industrial levels (from 1850 to 1900), and 0.81°C warmer than the average for the period 1991-2020. In addition, February 2024 is the 9th consecutive month (since June 2023) in which a global temperature record has been set.


For Europe in particular, February temperatures were 3.30°C above the average for the period 1991-2020 with temperatures much higher than the average in central and eastern Europe.


The global average temperature for the last 12 months (March 2023 to February 2024) has increased by 1.56°C compared to pre-industrial levels. This means that - for the time being at least - the target of the (revised) Paris Climate Agreement, which mandates that the temperature rise be kept below 1.5°C, has been "missed".


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