Global temperatures have reached a new 12-month high, surpassing 1.3 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels from November 2022 to October 2023. This period now stands as the hottest recorded in history.
Across 170 countries, average temperatures during this timeframe exceeded the 30-year norms, impacting 7.8 billion people—99% of the global population—with temperatures higher than usual. Notably, only Iceland and Lesotho experienced temperatures below their respective normal ranges.
During this period, 5.7 billion individuals experienced a minimum of 30 days with temperatures above the norm, with the likelihood of such occurrences being at least three times higher due to the impact of climate change, categorized as level three on Climate Central’s Climate Shift Index.
This heightened exposure affected nearly the entire populations of Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Italy, France, Spain, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Mexico, as well as every nation in the Caribbean and Central America.
In India, temperatures categorized as Climate Shift Index level-three were encountered on 30 or more days by 1.2 billion inhabitants, constituting 86% of the total population.
In China, 513 million residents, equivalent to 35% of the population, experienced similar conditions.
Meanwhile, in the United States, 88 million individuals, accounting for 26% of the population, faced at least 30 days with temperatures that were at least three times more probable due to the influence of climate change.
Between November 2022 and October 2023, 5.7 billion people experienced 30+ days in which climate change made unusually warm temperatures at least three times more likely.
Dr. Andrew Pershing, vice president for science at Climate Central said:
“This 12-month record is exactly what we expect from a global climate fueled by carbon pollution”
Dr. Andrew Pershing, vice president for science at Climate Central said
Throughout this period, over 500 million individuals across 200 cities encountered prolonged periods of extreme heat, marked by a minimum of five consecutive days with daily temperatures in the 99th percentile relative to 30-year norms.
Houston stood unparalleled with an extraordinary streak of 22 consecutive days of extreme heat between July 31 and August 21.
Following closely were New Orleans, Jakarta, and Tangerang in Indonesia, each experiencing 17 consecutive days of extreme heat. Other cities with notable extended periods of extreme heat included Austin (16 days), San Antonio (15 days), and Dallas (14 days).
Importantly, in each of these cities, the Climate Shift Index consistently reached the maximum level-five throughout these streaks, signifying that climate change increased the likelihood of this extreme heat by at least five times.
Dr. Andrew Pershing, vice president for science at Climate Central said:
“Records will continue to fall next year, especially as the growing El Niño begins to take hold, exposing billions to unusual heat. While climate impacts are most acute in developing countries near the equator, seeing climate-fueled streaks of extreme heat in the U.S., India, Japan, and Europe underscores that no one is safe from climate change.”
Dr. Andrew Pershing said
A summary of the analysis, with complete source data and localized graphics from Climate Central’s Climate Matters program is available.
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