2022 : World’s Fifth-Warmest on Record

January 14, 2023

The world’s average global temperature is now 1.1C to 1.2C higher than in pre-industrial times, according to U.S. scientists. Last year was the joint fifth-warmest on record, and the last nine years were the nine warmest since pre-industrial times. This puts the 2015 Paris Agreement’s goal to limit global warming to 1.5C in serious jeopardy.

Temperature Rankings

NASA announced that last year tied with 2015 as the fifth-warmest year since record-keeping began in 1880. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ranked 2022 as the sixth warmest since 1880, while European Union scientists said it was the fifth warmest year in their records. Climate assessments may produce slightly different rankings depending on the data sources used and the way records account for minor data alterations over time, such as a weather station being moved to a new location.

Increasing Temperature

NASA reported that temperatures are increasing by more than 0.2C per decade, putting the world on track to blow past the 2015 Paris Agreement’s goal to limit global warming to 1.5C to avoid its most devastating consequences. Schmidt also expected 2023 to be slightly warmer than 2022, due to a weaker La Nina cooling phenomenon.

Weather Extremes

The changing climate fueled weather extremes across the planet in 2022. Europe suffered its hottest summer on record, while in Pakistan floods killed 1,700 people and wrecked infrastructure, drought ravaged crops in Uganda and wildfires ripped through Mediterranean countries.

CO2 Emissions

Despite most of the world’s major emitters pledging to eventually slash their net emissions to zero, global CO2 emissions continue to rise. Climate change is driving extreme heat and flooding, concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere last year reached levels not experienced on earth for 3 million years, Schmidt said.

COP28 Climate Conference

At this year’s COP28 climate conference, countries will formally assess their progress towards the Paris Agreement’s 1.5C goal and the far faster emissions cuts needed to meet it. COP28 host the United Arab Emirates appointed the head of its state-owned oil company as president of the conference, sparking concerns among campaigners and scientists about the fossil fuel industry’s influence in the talks.

In conclusion, the world’s average global temperature is now 1.1C to 1.2C higher than in pre-industrial times, putting the 2015 Paris Agreement’s goal to limit global warming to 1.5C in serious jeopardy. Unless countries stop burning CO2-emitting fossil fuels, temperatures will continue to climb, and weather extremes will become more frequent and more severe. The COP28 climate conference will be a crucial opportunity for countries to formally assess their progress towards the Paris Agreement’s goals and the far faster emissions cuts needed to meet them.