February 2024 has been officially recorded as the warmest February globally, continuing a streak of nine consecutive months of record-breaking temperatures, as reported by the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. This month saw temperatures averaging 1.77C above pre-industrial levels, with global sea surface temperatures achieving unprecedented highs. This period has notably seen the global average temperature for the past 12 months exceed the critical 1.5C threshold, which scientists identify as crucial for mitigating the worst impacts of climate change.

In Europe, the winter season was marked as the second warmest on record, with February temperatures significantly above average, experiencing unusual weather patterns including wetter conditions in northern regions and drier conditions in the Mediterranean, alongside devastating wildfires and flooding in various parts of the world. Scientists attribute the continuous warming and extreme weather events to the rise in greenhouse gas emissions, caused primarily by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels.

The role of a powerful El Niño event, expected to persist until May, was also highlighted as a contributor to the global temperature increase. Not only did February 2024 experience record warmth, but it also saw environmental impacts such as extreme lows in Antarctic sea-ice levels and significant warming in the Arctic region. The urgency to mitigate CO2 emissions to prevent future temperature escalations is emphasized by climate experts, who warn against the continuing development of new gas and oil fields, likening such actions to denying proven scientific facts.

The consistent rise in global temperatures, alongside the historical highs in sea surface temperatures and the diminishing Antarctic sea-ice, calls attention to the ongoing challenges posed by climate change, including the adverse effects on coral reefs, rising sea levels, and the intensification of hurricanes.