EU monitor says global temperatures were 1.75C above preindustrial levels, extending run of unprecedented highs
Climate scientists had expected this exceptional spell to subside after a warming El Niño event peaked in January 2024 and conditions shifted to an opposing, cooling La Niña phase. But the heat has lingered at record or near-record levels, prompting debate about what other factors could be driving it to the top end of expectations.
I used to feel that way, but the term isn’t a copout….
It’s more than global warming. We’re not just warming the environment but destabilizing weather patterns and climate in ways that can be much worse for everyone.
People can dismiss a small shift in average temperature as something you can easily adjust to: just wear a sweater. But it’s much harder to adjust to more and worse storms, receding coastlines and increased flooding, agricultural areas that can no longer grow crops, long term water shortages, Western Europe losing its climate moderation, huge losses of biodiversity. And yes destabilized weather patterns means some places will get colder or wetter, and that will also probably be bad
It’s like warming a kettle, when you put more energy into it, shit begins to happen.