The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has officially confirmed that 2023 broke the global temperature record by a significant margin.

The annual global temperature average in 2023 nearly reached 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, a crucial threshold in the Paris Agreement's goal to limit long-term temperature rise. Monthly records were set from June to December, with July and August being the hottest months ever recorded.

WMO Secretary-General Prof. Celeste Saulo emphasized the urgency of addressing climate change, stressing the need for drastic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and accelerating the shift to renewable energy sources.

The transition from cooling La Niña to warming El Niño in mid-2023 significantly contributed to the temperature increase, with projections suggesting 2024 could surpass 2023’s record heat.

The report highlighted that while El Niño events are natural, human-induced climate change exacerbates their impact, aggravating global warming and its associated challenges, including inequality and environmental degradation.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres underscored the urgency of ambitious climate action to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, urging immediate global collaboration towards achieving climate justice.

WMO’s comprehensive assessment uses data from six international datasets, confirming 2023 as the warmest year recorded. The final State of the Global Climate 2023 report, due in March 2024, will provide further insights into the socioeconomic ramifications, including impacts on food security, displacement, and health.

Key points:

• In 2023, the average global temperature was 1.45 ± 0.12 °C above pre-industrial levels.

• The world is approaching the temperature limits outlined in the Paris Agreement.

• El Niño, combined with climate change, intensified heat in the latter half of 2023.

• 2024 is expected to be even warmer than 2023.

• Record-breaking heat had substantial socioeconomic impacts.