February 2024 has been confirmed as the hottest February on record globally, marking the ninth consecutive month of record-breaking temperatures, according to the latest data from the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service.
The worrying news comes just a month after the same scientists revealed that the world surpassed the critical 1.5°C threshold in 2024, with global average temperatures exceeding pre-industrial levels for the first time over an entire year.
These findings again reinforce just how important it is that all of us try to reduce our carbon footprints - whether individuals or businesses - as we work collectively to try to limit future human-induced warming and more immediately, stem its accelerating pace.
Record-Breaking Temperatures Highlight the Urgency of Climate Action
According to the report, February 2024 surpassed the pre-industrial average temperature for the month by a concerning 1.77°C. These alarming statistics are amplified by the record-breaking average global temperature recorded for the 12-month period between March 2023 and February 2024, which sits at 1.56°C higher than pre-industrial levels.
Some of that can undoubtedly be attributed to the strong El Niño event in 2023 - where warmer than usual ocean temperatures in the Pacific impact global weather patterns - from flooding in California to hotter summers in southern Europe and drought in Australia.
However, scientific consensus from Nasa to the International Panel on Climate Change overwhelmingly indicates that human activities are driving the global warming trend seen since the mid-20th century.
Europe Experiencing Disproportionate Impacts
The data also reveals a particularly concerning trend for the European continent. February 2024 saw European temperatures averaging 3.3°C above the 1991-2020 average for the month, with central and eastern regions experiencing the most significant deviations. Furthermore, Europe's winter season, December to February, ranked as the second warmest on record for the continent.
Rising Sea Surface Temperatures Add Another Layer of Concern
The report also highlights the record-breaking average global sea surface temperature for February 2024, reaching 21.06°C outside polar regions. This surpasses the previous record of 20.98°C set in August 2023. Notably, the average daily sea surface temperature reached a new all-time high of 21.09°C at the end of the month.
A Call to Action: Every Bit Counts
Commenting, a S2Z spokesman said: “As the planet warms, the delicate balance of our climate is being ever more disrupted, leading to a higher risk of extreme weather events like heat waves, floods, droughts, and wildfires.
“These events cause untold misery for millions of people around the world, displacing communities, destroying livelihoods, and threatening food security.
“The Copernicus reports serve as a crucial call to action, urging us all to do as much as we can to reduce our own personal or company footprint - so we can collectively address climate change and mitigate its effects before the consequences become even more devastating.”
At Switch2Zero, we believe that every individual and business has the power to make a difference.
Through our educational resources, insights and calculation tools, and initiatives like low-cost certified offsetting, plastic removal, and tree planting for the future, we aim to give everyone access to footprint reducing tools.
Every bit of action counts. So let's work together to address climate change and build a more sustainable future for generations to come.
