Last Monday was the hottest day on Earth since humans began measuring temperatures.
It didn’t hold the title long. The following day replaced it in the record books.
The World Meteorological Organisation said the average temperature across the planet then was 17.18C, surpassing Monday’s 17.01C.
It was beaten again on Thursday, when the global average hit 17.23C.
The figures were fuelled by heatwaves in Texas, with the mercury climbing to 40C, and 35C in China. Algeria and other parts of northern Africa sweltered in 50C heat.
Climate scientist Professor Friederike Otto said: “This is not a milestone we should be celebrating. It’s a death sentence for people and ecosystems everywhere.”
It is predicted the next six weeks could see records smashed again. And here in Britain, records have also been smashed for the hottest ever June, with sustained heat both day and night.
A sunny start to summer might seem like good news to many people. But for wildlife, a month 2.5C hotter than average can be fatal.
The Canal and River Trust has reported more than 60 incidents involving dead fish in 21 canals, as warmer rivers hold less oxygen.
The extreme marine heatwave in the North Sea, where temperatures were around 4C higher than normal, is believed to have played a role in June’s record heat.
The climate emergency is leading us into an unfamiliar world. Despite these alarm bells, the Government is running away, rather than accelerating action to confront the dangers.
It has emerged there have been talks into whether to drop a pledge to spend £11.6billion on climate and nature funding for countries most vulnerable to the crisis.
The war in Ukraine and present levels of debt have been blamed. The money was part of a $100billion-a-year global package agreed in 2019.
Breaking this promise not only risks driving the climate emergency but will also show total disregard for some of the world’s poorest communities.
