Earth was hotter than ever in 2023, approaching 1.5-degree warming limit
PBS NewsHourJan 22
Study: Last Summer Was the Hottest in 2K Years
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The Facts
According to a study published in Nature on Tuesday, the summer of 2023 was the hottest in 2K years in the extra-tropical regions of the northern hemisphere.
Using tree-ring data, researchers estimate that the hemisphere was at least 0.5°C hotter than the warmest summer in AD246 and nearly 4°C above the coldest summer in 2K years.
The Spin
Narrative A
Unsurprisingly, 2023 witnessed extreme weather events, including wildfires, ocean heat waves, and unprecedented temperature anomalies. Global warming could lead to ecological and societal collapse without nations rapidly transitioning from fossil fuels and achieving net-zero emissions.
Narrative B
The UN has cautioned against too much pessimism on the climate front and forecast less severe global warming than previously predicted, indicating that temperatures could fall short of worst-case scenarios. The world must invest in technologies and infrastructure to withstand climate impacts.