For 10 months in a row now, global temperatures have set new records.
Last month was the hottest March of modern records – the tenth month in a row to reach historic levels of heat for the respective time in the year, according to the EU’s climate monitoring service.
The 12 months ending with March also ranked as the planet’s hottest ever recorded 12-month period. From April 2023 to March 2024, the global average temperature was 1.58 degrees Celsius above the average in the 1850-1900 pre-industrial period.
This spike in warmth was mainly caused by human activities like CO2 emissions, but also by natural factors like El Niño and changes in air pollution and sand in the atmosphere. And for Ireland, the warmer air and seas actually meant colder and wetter weather over the past few weeks.
Although this temperature jump is concerning, it doesn’t mean we’ve abandoned our goals to tackle climate change. It’s a wake-up call to take action and stick to the plans outlined in the Paris Agreement.
The consequences of continuous temperature increases are serious. They could lead to irreversible changes like the Gulf Stream stopping, which would drastically alter weather patterns in Western Europe. Melting ice caps, thawing permafrost, and dying coral reefs are other worrying signs of a warming planet.
But there’s hope.
By reducing CO2 emissions and adopting more sustainable practices, we can still make a difference. It won’t be easy, as it requires cooperation on a global scale and overcoming political and social obstacles.
Climate change isn’t just affecting the environment; it’s also impacting people’s mental health. Some are experiencing anxiety and depression due to the unpredictable weather. Yet, there’s resilience too, as people find ways to cope and adapt to these changes.