The Unthinkable Heat This July Is Real
By polluting the oceans, not mitigating CO2 emissions and destroying our biodiversity, we are killing our planet. Let us face it, there is no planet B.” — Emmanuel Macron.
I’ve been feeling that the heat we’re experiencing this summer is extremely unbearable, like never before, I thought I was delusional, but no.
According to Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) data, we just experienced the warmest (isn’t it nice?) day in recent history on 22 July. We’ve been systematically recording the Earth’s temperature since the mid-19th century — this is the highest temperature recorded ever since the establishment of the modern meteorological weather stations in the 1850s.
Carbon dioxide, the most critical long-lived greenhouse gas, has reached its highest levels not seen in over 3 million years.
Methane and nitrous oxide, two other significant greenhouse gases, are also at their highest levels since the beginning of human existence.
It’s terrifying and heartbreaking to know.
In May this year, NASA reported the warmest May on record, making it a full year of record-high monthly temperatures for each respective month, and no different with June and July this year.
This information paints a stark and undeniable picture of the Earth’s evolving climate crisis. We’re now on the highway of more hot days, more hot months, and more hot years to come.
Air-temperature records — highest.
Effect of heatwaves — the worst.
Sea-surface temperatures — at their peaks and continuing to rise.
Sea ice — like a popsicle hits the pavement in the blazing summer sun.
I feel for the plants and animals, fish in the seas, and people who are outside or living without access to air conditioning.
I’m clearly throwing a tantrum here when I admit to myself that I’m a little mad at my past-life classmate, James Watt who invented the steam engine in the pre-industrial period. Since then, humans have been able to convert fossil fuels into energy, an evil (but brilliant) process that brings us civilization, indefinite conveniences, and wealth but also releases so much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere that now it’s broken beyond repair.
Each passing decade since the 1980s has been notably hotter than the one preceding it. The trajectory is clear: the 2020s will be hotter than the 2010s, and the 2030s will likely be even hotter still.
It’s pretty clear. The worst may not be over.
Are we ready for the hotter 2025? And the next, and next year?
“We are the first generation to feel the impact of climate change and the last generation that can do something about it.” — Barack Obama.
I’m writing this to share insights and remind you of the issue (even for a few minutes before it’ll be forgotten). I’m sorry I couldn’t end this story with some useful ways to help resolve the crisis, but here are people I follow who are best at that.
World Resources Institute (WRI)
Thank you for spending time with me today.