Global Temperature Hits Third-Warmest July, Marking the Conclusion of a Long-Standing Global Heat Record
Iceland and Nordic Countries Experience Unusual Heatwaves Amidst Global Warming
July 2021 saw Iceland and several Nordic countries experience unprecedented heatwaves, with temperatures soaring to record-breaking levels. According to the Icelandic Meteorological Office, 70% of weather stations in Iceland recorded temperatures above 20°C on July 14, making it the warmest day on record for the country. Hjarðarland in the Southwest even reached a high of 29.5°C, the highest temperature since 2008.
This heatwave was part of a broader trend of rising temperatures across the Northern Hemisphere. Finland, Sweden, and Norway all saw the mercury surpass the 30°C mark for several consecutive days, which is unusually high for these countries. Japan also experienced its highest temperature ever on July 30, a record that was broken again on Monday.
The global average temperature for July was the third-warmest ever recorded, standing at 1.25°C above the pre-industrial average. This trend of increasing global temperatures has been ongoing since the mid-19th century, with the Earth’s average temperature currently warmed by approximately 1.4°C.
Bjørn Samset, a researcher at the Norwegian climate research institution Cicero, stated that global warming isn't going away and will get stronger in the decades ahead. He sees the summer of 2025 as a clear illustration of how things will be in the future due to increasing global warming.
The unusually high temperatures in Nordic countries and Iceland during July 2021 are indicative of the impacts of global warming. A 2020 study by the Chinese University of Hong Kong found that five consecutive "hot nights," defined as when temperatures rise above 28°C (82°F), would raise the risk of death by 6.66%. As temperatures continue to rise, these impacts are expected to worsen significantly.
Regarding the Paris Agreement, the goal to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels has not been met and is very likely to be exceeded within the next five years due to continued emissions and long-term warming trends. The Paris Agreement, signed by 196 parties in 2015, aimed to limit long-term global warming to below 1.5°C or "well below 2°C" above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century. However, current national pledges and policies are insufficient, with projections indicating a likely 2.7°C rise by 2100 if commitments are fully implemented and possibly around 1.8°C if net-zero targets by over 100 countries are met.
Urgent and enhanced global climate action remains critical to reduce emissions and mitigate the most catastrophic impacts of climate change. The impacts of continued greenhouse gas emissions are already evident and projected to worsen significantly. Heatwaves have become more frequent and severe, with regions like Western Europe seeing their hottest June on record, and events once expected every 60 years becoming nearly decadal occurrences. These trends of rising temperatures and extreme weather are strongly linked to greenhouse gas accumulation and will continue as long as emissions remain high.
In South Korea, a record-breaking streak of "tropical nights" was experienced for 22 consecutive days last month. Norway also saw its hottest day on record on July 16, with temperatures in Meråker in the Stjørdalen region, close to the Swedish border, reaching 34°C. As the world continues to warm, it is essential to take action to reduce emissions and adapt to the changing climate to minimize the risks and impacts of extreme weather events.
- The rising temperatures observed during the 2021 heatwaves in Iceland and Nordic countries are an example of the evident impacts of global warming, which scientists have been predicting for years.
- The ongoing trend of increasing global temperatures, such as the one witnessed in the summer of 2021, is a concern for health-and-wellness, as a study showed that five consecutive "hot nights" could potentially increase the risk of death by 6.66%.
- Climate scientists, such as Bjørn Samset from Cicero, warn that climate change, driven by global warming, will only intensify in the coming decades, necessitating urgent and enhanced global climate action to mitigate its most catastrophic impacts on the environment and human health.
