In 2023, global temperatures reached unprecedented levels, making it the warmest year on record since 1850
The average temperature in 2023 was 1.48°C higher than the pre-industrial level (1850-1900) and 0.17°C warmer than the previous record in 2016
2023 witnessed extreme weather eventsworldwide, including heatwaves, floods, droughts, and wildfires, contributing to the most destructive wildfire season in Canada's history
Daily temperatures in 2023 consistently exceeded 1°C above the pre-industrial level, with about 50% of days being more than 1.5°C warmer
Greenhouse gas concentrations in 2023 were the highest ever recorded, with carbon dioxide concentrations 2.4 parts per million higher than in 2022, primarily driven by human activities
The onset of El Niño in 2023, after a seven-year hiatus, played a role in extreme warming, increasing the likelihood of temperature records being broken globally
In 2023, unprecedented global sea surface temperatures led to marine heatwavesin various regions, including the Mediterranean, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Indian Ocean, North Pacific, and North Atlantic
Antarctica experienced a significant decrease in sea ice extent, reaching an annual maximum of 16.96 million sq km in September, 1.03 million sq km less than the previous record low in 1986
Scientists predict that 2024 could surpass the record set in 2023, with a 66% chance of at least one year between 2023 and 2027 breaching the 1.5°C warming threshold
Urgent global action is required to mitigate climate change, including greenhouse gas emission cuts, to prevent the long-term breach of the 1.5°C limit and its severe impacts on climate