Five Things to Know About Earth’s Hottest Year

The document highlights that 2023 is virtually certain to be the hottest year on record, driven by human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. It details the resulting increase in extreme weather events, the long-term trend of rapid warming since the industrial revolution, and the necessity of transitioning to clean energy to meet global climate targets.

• 2023 is virtually certain to be the hottest year on record, with the first 11 months being the hottest since records began in the mid-1800s. Global temperatures broke records for six consecutive months from June to November 2023.
• Human-caused climate change has significantly increased the likelihood of extreme heat. In July 2023, the hottest month on record, 81% of the global population experienced heat made more likely by human activity. In the U.S., 45 cities saw heat made at least twice as likely by climate change on 50% to 98% of summer days.
• Current warming is part of a long-term trend; the planet has warmed faster in the last 50 years than at any point in at least the previous 2,000 years. The World Meteorological Organization estimates a 98% chance that at least one year between 2023 and 2027 will be the hottest on record.
• The primary driver of rapid warming is heat-trapping pollution from human activities, specifically the burning of coal, oil, and natural gas. Observed warming since 1850 cannot be explained by natural drivers such as El Niño, solar activity, or volcanic emissions.
• While clean energy growth is accelerating—with solar and wind costs dropping 90% and 70% respectively over the last decade—current global pledges still put the planet on track for 2.5 - 2.9°C of warming by the end of the century, exceeding the 1.5°C and 2°C limits agreed upon in 2015.

APA

Climate Central (2023). Five Things to Know About Earth’s Hottest Year. https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/five-things-to-know-about-earths-hottest-year-2023

Chicago

Climate Central. Five Things to Know About Earth’s Hottest Year. 2023. https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/five-things-to-know-about-earths-hottest-year-2023.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate Central |title=Five Things to Know About Earth’s Hottest Year |date=20 December 2023 |url=https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/five-things-to-know-about-earths-hottest-year-2023 |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climatecentral2023five, author = {{Climate Central}}, title = {{Five Things to Know About Earth’s Hottest Year}}, institution = {Climate Central}, year = {2023}, month = dec, url = {https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/five-things-to-know-about-earths-hottest-year-2023}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }