According to the latest report from the European climate observatory Copernicus, May 2024 emerged as the hottest May ever recorded since data collection began.
The global average surface temperature soared 0.65 degrees Celsius above the average established between 1991 and 2020. This sustained trend underscores the alarming trajectory of climate change, with each month shattering previous records.
Carlo Buontempo, Director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), expressed a mix of shock and resignation at this relentless march towards warmer climates. He remarked, “It’s shocking, but not surprising, that we have reached this series of 12 months […] Even if this sequence of record-breaking months will be interrupted at some point, the general signature of climate change remains, and there is no change in trend in sight.”
While acknowledging the inevitability of this trend, Buontempo emphasised the importance of leveraging advanced climate monitoring capabilities to inform strategic interventions.
The findings of the Copernicus report align with forecasts from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the British Meteorological Office for the period spanning 2024 to 2028. Projections suggest that at least one of the next five years is poised to surpass 2023, potentially claiming the title of the warmest year on record.
Reflecting on these sobering statistics, Buontempo speculated that while the string of warmest months may fade from memory, concerted efforts to stabilise greenhouse gas emissions could yield a return to cooler temperatures by the century’s end.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres stresses the urgency for immediate action, urging global mobilisation to combat the escalating climate crisis. “Over the past year, the situation has heated up at every turn of the calendar. Our planet is trying to tell us something. But we don’t seem to be listening. We are breaking world temperature records,” Guterres asserts, underscoring the imperative for proactive measures.
According to data from the European Climate Observatory, the average temperature in May 2024 soared to 1.52°C above the pre-industrial average recorded from 1850 to 1900. This alarming spike marks the 11th consecutive month (since July 2023) that temperatures have exceeded the critical threshold of 1.5°C. Additionally, the global average temperature for the past 12 months, spanning from June 2023 to May 2024, stands as the highest ever recorded since the start of climate data collection.
