The Met Office has released provisional data indicating that last year was the UK's second warmest on record, trailing closely behind 2022 by a mere 0.06C in average temperature.
Notably, 2023 emerged as the hottest year on record for both Wales and Northern Ireland, highlighting the pronounced impact of climate change on rising temperatures.
Senior Scientist Mike Kendon from the Met Office emphasized the evident influence of climate change on long-term temperature records in the UK. He stated, "The trend is unmistakable. Climate change is significantly impacting the UK's temperature records, with 2023 being another year marked by unusually high temperatures."
Throughout the year, the UK experienced record-breaking heat, bookended by the hottest June and a joint warmest September ever recorded, with temperatures surpassing 33C.
The UK holds some of the world's oldest temperature records, dating back to 1659 in the Central England Temperature series maintained by the Met Office.
Despite successive record-hot years, governmental advisors warned in July of the country's lack of preparedness for climate change. In 2022, the over-65 age group reported around 3,000 more deaths than the average, alongside a 20% cancellation rate of operations.
Greenpeace UK's policy director, Doug Parr, criticized Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's recent actions on climate change, expressing concern that increased oil and gas drilling in the North Sea and delayed emissions-reduction policies could exacerbate the issue.
In terms of precipitation, average rainfall in the UK increased by 11%, rising to over 20% in England and Northern Ireland. Climate scientists anticipate hotter, drier summers and milder, wetter winters in the UK due to climate change-induced shifts.
Globally, 2023 saw extreme weather events, including wildfires in Greece, Tunisia, and Hawaii, record-high sea temperatures in the Atlantic, a severe wildfire season in Canada, and concerning drops in Antarctic sea ice.
The Copernicus Climate Change Service is expected to confirm in January that 2023 globally ranks as the hottest year on record. The elevated temperatures are attributed in part to climate change and the natural weather phenomenon El Niño.
El Niño, characterized by weakened Pacific winds and warmer ocean waters, is anticipated to persist through the first half of 2024. This is expected to drive 2024 to potentially become the hottest year globally on record, pushing global temperatures beyond the critical 1.5C warming threshold.
Reaching this threshold would signify an average global temperature 1.5C higher than the late 1800s, marking the onset of significant fossil fuel emissions from industrialization. The 1.5C target is a pivotal aspect of global climate change negotiations outlined in the 2015 Paris agreement. Photo by Raymond Knapman, Wikimedia commons.