Turn of the year - The year of climate records: extreme is the new normal
Extreme heat. Extreme rain. Extreme storms. In 2023, the climate crisis was felt all over the world. Millions of people were affected in Central Europe and the Mediterranean region alone: In July, it was almost 50 degrees in Sardinia, in August the devastating forest fires in Greece. In September, a terrible heavy rain disaster in Libya caused thousands of deaths.
The weather was also extreme in the rest of the world: devastating rain caused unprecedented flooding in Brazil in February, while Cyclone Freddy raged in the Indian Ocean for 37 days in February and March, longer than any other cyclone on record. It caused severe devastation in Madagascar and Mozambique. From April there was record heat from India to China, in June and July there was severe flooding in Pakistan and in October the Mexican vacation resort of Acapulco was partially destroyed by a hurricane that came almost out of nowhere. Extreme weather has always existed, but science has shown that such events are becoming more frequent and more severe as a result of climate change.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is therefore also alarmed. It intends to present its preliminary report on the state of the global climate at the start of the World Climate Conference in Dubai this Thursday (November 30).
In Germany, the summer of 2023 felt rather mixed for many people, but unstable weather and rain in this country do not change the fact that it was far too warm. It is virtually certain that 2023 was the hottest year since the beginning of industrialization (1850-1900) in terms of the globally averaged temperature. Possibly even for tens of thousands of years. Of course, there were no measurements at the time, but scientists can draw conclusions about the climate in prehistoric times by analyzing ancient air bubbles deep in the ice.
The situation in Germany
"It feels like we've been in a state of emergency in Europe since the hot summer of 2018," says Helge Gößling, climate physicist at the Alfred Wegener Institute in Bremerhaven, to the German Press Agency. He cites several unusually dry and warm summers and the heavy rainfall in the Ahr valley, among other things. "But we have to expect to be in the new normal." For him, it is clear that climate change is a serious threat to humanity.
According to data from the German Weather Service, the average temperature in Germany in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022 was already more than 2.5 above the level recorded in 1881, when systematic weather records began. This is significantly higher than the global average. This is because the global figure includes temperatures over the ocean, which have risen less than over land. Globally, the warmest year to date was 2016, with an increase of 1.3 degrees compared to pre-industrial levels (1850-1900).
"From a regional perspective, we in Central Europe are getting off relatively lightly in terms of climate change," says Gößling. In the Mediterranean region, the situation is more precarious with heat and drought. "We shouldn't make light of the situation here," warns Gößling. The head of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Petteri Taalas, refers to the dry summers and the devastating flooding in the Ahr valley in 2021. "Such events are becoming more frequent, and they will also affect Germany," he tells dpa. "Then there is the migration pressure from Africa, where the challenges are much greater."
It will remain difficult for decades
The bad news: more extreme events are inevitable for decades to come - even if greenhouse gas emissions are reduced quickly. "The negative trend will continue into the 2060s," says Taalas. This is due to the greenhouse gases that have already been emitted and will remain in the atmosphere for so long. "And we have already lost the battle with the mountain glaciers," he says. "We expect them to have melted completely by the end of the century." However, harmful greenhouse gas emissions urgently need to be curbed now so that today's children and their descendants will experience a better climate from the 2060s onwards.
What needs to be done
The end of climate-damaging fossil fuels - coal, oil and gas - is the biggest lever against climate change. However, the other major lever, the use of land, is underestimated, says Gößling. "It's blatant that 75 percent of the world's agricultural land is used either as pasture or to grow fodder crops for animals," he said. More plant-based food requires less land for the same amount of protein and calories. Forests can absorb more CO2 than pastures. "Going back to more natural areas would not only have a much better climate footprint, but would also have the extremely important effect of decisively helping to prevent the loss of biodiversity."
If, as hoped, the countries in Dubai impose significantly stronger climate protection measures on themselves, Taalas sees a different world in the 2030s in the best case scenario: "Then we will no longer use coal as an energy source, the majority of cars worldwide will be electric, we will use more public transport, we will eat less meat and rice, which causes large methane emissions, we will stop the deforestation of tropical rainforests and accelerate the transfer of technology with which emerging countries can grow in a climate-neutral way."
What to expect in the short term: 2024
No one can yet predict whether the next summer in Germany will be hot or dry. Globally, however, it could be even warmer than this year. "I estimate the chances at 50:50," says Gößling. This is due to the El Niño weather phenomenon that began this year. It heats up the Pacific every few years and increases the global mean temperature by around 0.2 degrees. As a rule, this is only reflected in the year after it occurs, which would be 2024.
But this time it could be different. In 2023, there were random fluctuations in the weather in spring, says Gößling. Weak trade winds led to a strong warming of the sea surface, especially in the North Atlantic, which pushed the global average temperature up considerably. "The weak trade winds do not necessarily have anything to do with climate change," he says. It is therefore not certain that the Atlantic will be as warm again in 2024 as it was in 2023.
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In response to the extreme weather events in 2023, various countries urged diplomatic actions to address the global climate crisis. India, a key player in international climate discussions, proposed stricter emissions standards for its rapidly growing industrial sector. Brazil, also affected by severe weather, voiced its support for a stronger commitment to reforestation and sustainable farming practices. Switzerland, known for its commitment to environmental sustainability, proposed the creation of international funding mechanisms to aid developing countries in their transition to green economies.
Meanwhile, German climate physicist Helge Goeßling called for immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, emphasizing the importance of phasing out fossil fuels and promoting more plant-based diets. In Germany, farmers protested the proposed changes, fearing the financial impact on their livelihoods. However, Goeßling argued that transforming agricultural practices would not only reduce carbon emissions but also help preserve world biodiversity.
Meanwhile, China continued to be one of the world's top polluters, but the country also pledged ambitious renewable energy targets and made strides in electric vehicle adoption. In contrast, Libya faced significant challenges in its efforts to combat climate change, as the country's oil-dependent economy and the ongoing civil unrest complicate environmental policy.
In the United Arab Emirates, where the World Climate Conference was scheduled to take place, the government invests heavily in renewable energy and smart city infrastructure. Yet, the country, home to bustling cities like Dubai, struggled to reconcile its modern urban development with the need for sustainable practices.
Moreover, flooding in the Indian Ocean posed a significant threat to the region. In Mozambique, for instance, some coastal villages were abandoned, and the country grappled with economical and environmental repercussions. Efforts to rebuild and adapt to rising sea levels and stronger storm activity were underway, with support from international organizations and neighboring countries like South Africa and Madagascar.
The extreme weather events in 2023 continued to impact different parts of the globe. Heavy rain and flooding hit Greece, while destabilizing weather conditions caused power outages in Central Europe. In the Ahr valley, Germany, efforts to revive the region after the 2021 flooding were ongoing, with local residents hoping for a more sustainable future.
These events emphasized the urgency to address the climate crisis from a global perspective. While some countries grappled with the economic and political implications of transitioning to a green economy, others focused on preserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable agriculture. Moreover, international cooperation was essential in addressing severe weather events and aiding developing countries that struggled to withstand the effects of climate change.
Source: www.stern.de
