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Based on NASA and NOAA data, 2022 was the sixth hottest year on record, measuring 2.03°F (1.13°C) warmer than the 1881-1910 baseline. This warming occurred despite the cooling effect of a third consecutive La Niña year. The Arctic continues to warm nearly four times faster than the global average, with the last seven years being the warmest since 1900. The document also notes that renewables are projected to become the largest global electricity source by 2027, with China, the United States, and India expected to drive two-thirds of that growth.

In 2022, the U.S. experienced 18 billion-dollar weather and climate disasters causing $165 billion in damages and 474 deaths, with Hurricane Ian being the costliest hurricane on record. The year was the 18th hottest on record for the U.S., with 73% of analyzed locations experiencing warmer-than-normal temperatures. These events are part of a longer warming trend, with 98% of analyzed U.S. locations showing increased average annual temperatures from 1970 to 2021. Meanwhile, U.S. fossil fuel emissions increased by 1.5% in 2022, though the Inflation Reduction Act is expected to help double annual wind and solar PV capacity additions by 2027 compared to 2021.

The document reports that 97% of 246 analyzed U.S. locations experienced an increase in average temperature during the period from December 25 to January 5 between 1969 and 2021. It details regional shifts in snowpack and precipitation, noting that winter is the fastest-warming season for most of the U.S., which increases the likelihood of precipitation falling as rain rather than snow.

Climate Central's analysis of 247 U.S. locations shows a significant shift toward heat records over cold records, with 96% of locations setting more heat records in the 2010s compared to 54% in the 1910s. From January 2020 to November 2022, 91% of analyzed locations saw more record heat than cold, with some cities like Tampa and Miami setting only heat records. The report links these local trends to global warming, noting that daily heat records in the U.S. have become at least twice as frequent as cold records, increasing risks for health, ecosystems, and infrastructure.

Analysis of 238 U.S. locations shows that 97% have experienced increased average winter temperatures since 1970, with an average warming of 3.3°F. Winter is the fastest warming season for 75% of these locations, and 97% of 244 analyzed locations have seen shrinking winter cold snaps. These trends impact water supplies, residential energy use, agriculture, public health, and the winter recreation industry.

Analysis of 246 U.S. locations shows that November temperatures have risen in 82% of sites since 1970, with one-third of those locations experiencing a warming of 2.5F or more.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar highlights the increasing risks of extreme heat and humidity for athletes, spectators, and outdoor workers, necessitating adaptations such as rescheduling the tournament to November and December. FIFA reports that the 2022 event will generate record-high emissions of approximately 3.6 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents, primarily from travel, though the organization aims for carbon neutrality through offsetting. The document also notes that heat-related risks will continue to affect future global sporting events in regions like Australia, Europe, Mexico, the U.S., and Canada.

Climate Central's analysis of 246 U.S. locations since 1970 reveals that winter is the fastest warming season for 74% of these sites, particularly in the Northeast and Great Lakes regions. While winter warming disrupts snowfall and water supplies, other regions experience faster warming in different seasons: western U.S. locations often see faster spring and fall warming, while parts of Washington, Oregon, Texas, and Florida experience the most rapid summer warming. These shifts contribute to increased wildfire risks, altered agricultural cycles, and higher energy demands for cooling.

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas with over 80 times the warming power of CO2 over 20 years, though it breaks down in about 12 years. Approximately 60% of methane emissions result from human activity, primarily agriculture (40%), the energy sector (35%), and waste management (20%). The five largest global emitters are China, the U.S., Russia, India, and Brazil. In the U.S., the energy sector's contribution is estimated by the IEA at 54%, significantly higher than the EPA's 38% due to underreported 'ultra-emitting events'. Reduction strategies include repairing leaks in oil and gas production, capturing biogas from waste and agriculture, and using alternative livestock feed. Measurement is shifting from 'bottom-up' inventories to 'top-down' remote sensing via satellites and aircraft to better identify point sources. The Global Methane Pledge, launched at COP26, aims for a 30% reduction in global methane emissions from 2020 levels by 2030, though several top emitters have not yet joined.

The report identifies methane as a critical target for slowing climate change due to its high warming potential and short atmospheric lifetime. It highlights significant discrepancies between 'bottom-up' government estimates and 'top-down' satellite measurements, particularly in the energy sector. The document details mitigation strategies such as leak detection and repair (LDAR) in oil and gas, alternative livestock feeds, and alternate wetting and drying in rice cultivation. It also emphasizes the role of biogas and food waste reduction as cross-cutting solutions for the agriculture and waste sectors.

The document highlights how global climate decisions at COP27 affect local areas through three primary tools: an analysis of U.S. warming scenarios, the Global Climate Shift Index (CSI-Global) tracking daily temperature influences in over 1,000 cities, and the Picturing Our Future tool visualizing sea level rise. It emphasizes the gap between current emissions trajectories and the 1.5°C to 2°C warming limits agreed upon in 2015.

The analysis by Climate Central examines how rising sea levels shift tidal boundaries, potentially converting private taxable land into public land and reducing local government funding for schools and services. By mid-century, over 648,000 tax parcels (up to 4.4 million acres) are projected to be at least partially below tidal boundaries, with Florida, Louisiana, and Texas most affected. By 2100, at least $108 billion in assessed property value is at risk, though the actual total is likely higher due to incomplete data.

The analysis identifies significant risks to the very elderly population in South Jersey, estimating that 11,143 people aged 85 and older live in areas prone to residential flooding during a Sandy-like storm surge. Specifically, 1,853 people in this age group reside in census tracts that could be nearly entirely underwater, including parts of Brigantine, Atlantic City, and Ocean City. The report highlights that some local concentrations of the 85+ population, such as in Ocean City, are significantly higher than the U.S. average of 2%.

The U.S. has seen a steady increase in the frequency and cost of billion-dollar weather and climate disasters since 1980. In 2022, by September 30, the country had already experienced 15 such events totaling $29.3 billion in losses, exceeding the historical annual average of seven. The time between these disasters has shrunk from 82 days in the 1980s to an average of 18 days between 2017 and 2021, reducing the time available for recovery and preparation. While hurricanes are the most costly event type, the overall trend of increasing extremes is linked to human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, with projections suggesting further intensity without rapid emissions cuts.

The document explains that fall foliage is driven by temperature, sun exposure, and rainfall, all of which are being altered by climate change. While warming temperatures generally delay leaf fall, drought and heat stress can cause earlier shedding or duller colors. These shifts have economic implications for tourism and ecological implications for forest carbon sequestration.

The document examines how healthy soils in agriculture and natural ecosystems (forests, wetlands, and grasslands) can act as carbon sinks. It highlights regenerative agriculture practices, the importance of protecting peatlands and native prairies, and the role of Indigenous knowledge. However, it warns that soil sequestration cannot replace the need for greenhouse gas emission cuts and faces challenges such as measurement standardization and the risk of displacing food production.

Climate Central's global analysis using the Climate Shift Index (CSI) found that 96% of the world's population—7.6 billion people—experienced daily temperatures made warmer by human-caused climate change between October 2021 and September 2022. The study identifies the strongest influences in regions near the equator and on small islands, with Lagos, Mexico City, and Singapore emerging as the highest hotspots of human exposure when accounting for urban population. The analysis also pinpointed peak continental CSI days, noting that these do not always coincide with major heat waves.

Summer 2022 was the third hottest on record for the contiguous U.S., with significant influence from climate change on both daytime and nighttime temperatures. Using the Climate Shift Index, the analysis shows that nearly half of the contiguous U.S. experienced 15 or more days where average temperatures were at least twice as likely due to climate change. The period was also marked by extreme precipitation in Missouri and Kentucky, widespread wildfires burning over 6.7 million acres, and severe drought affecting 94% of Hawaii and 85 consecutive weeks in Puerto Rico.

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) allocates $369 billion to clean energy and emissions reductions, projected to bring U.S. emissions to approximately 42% below 2005 levels by 2030. The law is expected to accelerate the energy transition primarily through the power and transportation sectors, potentially creating over 1.7 million energy supply jobs and avoiding 63,000 premature deaths by 2035 through reduced fossil fuel pollution.

Between 2000 and 2021, the U.S. experienced 1,542 major weather-related power outages, with 83% of all reported major outages attributed to weather. The average annual number of these events increased by approximately 78% in the 2011-2021 decade compared to 2000-2010. Severe weather, winter weather, and tropical cyclones were the primary drivers, with the Southeast, Midwest, and Northeast regions most affected. To address these vulnerabilities, the document suggests solutions such as microgrids, smart grid technologies, grid hardening, and bidirectional charging for electric vehicles.