The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released its latest report on January 19th, stating that several climate change indicators hit record highs in 2023. These include greenhouse gas concentrations, surface temperatures, ocean heat and acidification, sea level rise, Antarctic sea ice extent, and glacier loss.
According to the WMO's "State of the Global Climate 2023" report, extreme events such as heat waves, floods, droughts, wildfires, and rapidly intensifying tropical cyclones have disrupted the lives of millions and caused billions in economic damage.
The report indicates that 2023 was the hottest year on record, with global near-surface temperatures about 1.45°C above pre-industrial levels. The past decade was also the warmest on record.
Data shows that nearly a third of the ocean experienced marine heatwaves in 2023, harming vital ecosystems and food systems. Antarctic sea ice coverage was at its smallest extent ever recorded, with the annual maximum at the end of winter being one million square kilometers lower than the previous record.
"We are getting dangerously close to the 1.5°C warming limit of the Paris Agreement," said WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas. "The WMO is issuing a red alert for the planet. Climate change is not just about rising temperatures. What we are seeing in 2023—particularly the unprecedented ocean warming, glacier retreat, and loss of sea ice in Antarctica—should set alarm bells ringing." Taalas emphasized that the climate crisis is the defining challenge of our time.
