Record Heat and Drought Grips Catalonia and the World

The photograph captured in January 2024 showcases the dry soil surrounding the low water-level reservoir of Sau, with the Sant Roma de Sau church in the background, highlighting Catalonia's struggle with a prolonged and severe drought. This crisis has persisted for three years, resulting in water restrictions for residents of the region as they grapple with the scarcity of this vital resource. The gravity of the situation is underscored by the fact that the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) reported that each month since June 2023 has set a new record as the hottest on the planet when compared to the same month in previous years.

The data revealed by the C3S bulletin also indicates that the global average temperature, including April, has reached unprecedented levels, surpassing the previous records by 1.61 degrees Celsius compared to the pre-industrial period from 1850 to 1900. These extreme temperature anomalies, such as the soaring sea surface temperatures, have prompted researchers to investigate whether human actions have pushed the climate system to a critical point. Scientists like Julien Nicolas, a senior climate scientist at C3S, are contemplating whether a significant shift has occurred within the climate system due to these sustained high temperatures and their implications for the planet's future.

The impact of climate change is being felt globally, as evidenced by the rise in heat-related incidents, such as the deadly heatwave in the Sahel region in April, which has been attributed to the changing climate patterns. Researchers, including Hayley Fowler from Newcastle University, warn that the world is edging precariously close to exceeding the targets set in the 2015 Paris Agreement, particularly the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. While technically the 1.5 degrees Celsius target has not yet been breached over a long-term average, experts caution that swift and substantial emissions reductions are imperative to avoid surpassing this critical threshold.