Record-breaking September heat intensifies climate fears for 2023

Scientists warn that 2023 is on track to be the hottest year on record, with September experiencing the largest temperature anomalies since 1940. The European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) reported that global average temperatures for January to September were 1.4 degrees Celsius higher than the preindustrial period. The extreme heat is fueled by the climate crisis, primarily caused by the burning of fossil fuels. The findings emphasize the urgent need for ambitious climate action ahead of the COP28 climate conference. The recent U.N. report confirmed that the world is not on track to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. El Niño conditions are also developing, contributing to higher global temperatures and extreme weather events. Pope Francis and U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres have both issued warnings about the dire consequences of climate change.