Climate Change and Australian Wildfires

Climate Crisis

• 2023 was officially declared the hottest year on record, surpassing the previous record set in 2016.
• The average global temperature exceeded the pre-industrial level by 1.48°C, marking a critical milestone in the Paris Agreement.

Temperature Records

• Every day in 2023 was at least 1°C warmer than the pre-industrial level (1850-1900).
• Nearly every second day was more than 1.5°C warmer than the pre-industrial level.
• Two days in November exceeded the 2°C threshold for the first time.

Paris Agreement

• The Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to 2°C above the pre-industrial level, with an ideal target of 1.5°C.
• The last nine years have been the hottest on record, making it increasingly challenging to achieve the Paris Agreement's goals.

Causes of Global Warming

• Human-induced global warming and El Niño, a natural phenomenon that warms the surface of the Pacific Ocean, are the two main causes of the anomalous 2023 temperature.
• The global average sea surface temperature remained unusually high in most ocean basins, especially in the North Atlantic, contributing to the overall increase in global temperatures.

Ocean's Role in Climate

• The ocean covers over 70% of the Earth's surface and has absorbed 90% of global warming over the past decade.
• A warmer ocean has a lower capacity to absorb energy and mitigate temperature increases on the planet.

Recent Temperature Trends

• Every month from June to December 2023 was warmer than the corresponding month in previous years.
• December 2023 was the hottest on record globally, and it is likely that the temperature will exceed the pre-industrial level by 1.5°C over the next 12 months.