A new study analyzing ancient tree rings reveals that last summer was the hottest in the past 2,000 years, with unprecedented warmth across the Northern Hemisphere.
Tree rings indicate summer 2023 was 4 degrees warmer than the average from 1 to 1890.
The study suggests that current warming trends surpass the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement.
High heat fueled severe weather events globally, from wildfires to intense heat waves and heavy rains.
Key quote:
“It’s true that the climate is always changing, but when you look at the long sweep of history, you can see just how dramatic recent global warming is.”
— Jan Esper, lead author, Johannes Gutenberg University
Carbon pollution led to heavier rains and stronger floods in Greece and Libya this month but other human factors were responsible for “turning the extreme weather into a humanitarian disaster”, scientists have said.
Heating is occurring in the North Barents Sea, a region where fast rising temperatures are suspected to trigger increases in extreme weather in North America, Europe and Asia.
Researchers are drilling down into the ways life on a hotter planet will tax our bodies, and looking for protections that, unlike air-conditioning, don’t make the problem worse.
