Arabia Weather - The World Meteorological Organization said in a statement on Tuesday that the year 2023 witnessed the breaking of all major global climate records, and the year 2024 is expected to be even worse, especially with regard to rising ocean temperatures and decreasing areas of sea ice.
According to a report by the United Nations weather agency, average temperatures rose to their highest level in 174 years, with a temperature increase of 1.45 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The report indicated that this rise caused severe heat waves, floods, drought, forest fires, and devastating tropical cyclones, which led to deteriorating conditions and chaos, and brought about radical changes in the lives of millions, in addition to economic losses estimated at billions of dollars.
According to the organization's report, ocean temperatures have risen to their highest levels in 65 years, with more than 90% of the seas experiencing heat waves during 2023, negatively affecting food systems.
Regarding the issue, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, confirmed that all major indicators raise warning signals, pointing to the acceleration of climate change.
The Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization, Celeste Saulo, who took office in January, stated that the organization is launching a state of high alert, noting that what we witnessed in 2023, especially the unprecedented warming of the oceans, the retreat of glaciers and the loss of sea ice in Antarctica, calls for... Extreme anxiety.
The area of sea ice in Antarctica was the lowest ever, with the maximum at the end of winter reaching one million square kilometers less than the previous year, which is equivalent to the area of France and Germany combined, according to the report.
The report indicated that ocean temperatures have risen significantly in the North Atlantic Ocean, with average temperatures reaching three degrees Celsius above average at the end of 2023. Rising ocean temperatures in this region are affecting sensitive marine ecosystems, as many fish species have escaped. North in search of cooler waters.
The reference group of glaciers around the world suffered the largest loss of ice on record since 1950, due to severe melting in regions of western North America and Europe, according to the report.
Saulo said that the climate crisis is the greatest challenge facing humanity, “and is closely intertwined with the crisis of inequality, as evidenced by growing food insecurity, population displacement, and the loss of biodiversity.”
According to the report, the number of people experiencing acute food insecurity around the world has doubled from 149 million people before the COVID-19 pandemic to about 333 million people in 2023. Although extreme weather and climate events may not be the root cause of this, They were contributing factors.
Relatedly, weather risks continued to drive population displacement around the world in 2023, showing how climate shocks undermine resilience and create new protection risks among the most vulnerable populations.
However, the report suggests a glimmer of hope, noting that renewable energy generation, mainly through solar, wind and hydro, has jumped to the forefront of climate action thanks to its ability to meet decarbonisation targets.
According to the report, renewable energy increased by an estimated 50 percent in 2023 compared to 2022, reaching 510 GW, the highest rate of increase in the past two decades.
This week, climate leaders and ministers from around the world are scheduled to meet for the first time since the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) held in Dubai last year. This meeting will be held at the Climate Ministerial Conference in the Danish capital, Copenhagen, on March 21-22, with the aim of accelerating climate action.
Among the priorities set at the meeting is to strengthen nationally determined contributions before the February 2025 deadline, as well as reaching an ambitious financing agreement at the Twenty-ninth Conference of the Parties (COP29) to turn national plans into action.
The Azerbaijani capital, Baku, is scheduled to host the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in November this year.
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World Meteorological Day 2024 under the slogan “At the forefront of climate action”
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