Geneva (Agencies): The world has marked a new global heat record in March 2024. Both air temperatures and the world’s oceans hit an all-time high for the month, setting a new monthly record for global heat for the 10th consecutive month.
March 2024 averaged 14.14 degrees Celsius (57.9 degrees Fahrenheit), exceeding the previous record from 2016 by a tenth of a degree34. The month was also 1.68 degrees C (3 degrees F) warmer than in the late 1800s, the base used for temperatures before the burning of fossil fuels began growing rapidly.
This record-breaking heat during this time wasn’t entirely surprising due to a strong El Nino, a climatic condition that warms the central Pacific and changes global weather patterns. However, the combination with the non-natural marine heat waves made these records so breathtaking.
This alarming trend underscores the urgent need for global action on climate change. As the world continues to grapple with the impacts of climate change, these record-breaking temperatures serve as a stark reminder of the challenges ahead.
The United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has warned that the world will probably breach 1.5C in the early 2030s. The target is measured in decades rather than individual years.