The 34th annual State of the Climate Report, an international annual review of the world’s climate, was published this week, revealing the extent of last year’s extreme climate conditions.
Led by scientists from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) and published by the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society (BAMS), the report is based on contributions from nearly 600 scientists in 60 countries.
Key findings from the report include:
- Last year was the warmest year since records began in the mid-to-late 1800s, surpassing the previous record in 2016.
- Carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide reached record-high concentrations in 2023.
- El Nino conditions contributed to record-high sea surface temperatures.
- Global mean sea level was a record high for the 12th consecutive year.
- Heatwaves and droughts contributed to “massive” wildfires around the world.
- The Arctic had its fourth-warmest year in the 124-year record, with summer (July to September) being record-warm.
- Antarctic sea ice set record lows throughout 2023.
- While tropical cyclone activity was below average, storms still set records around the globe.
“This report documents and shares a startling, but well established picture,” said NCEI Director Derek Arndt. “We are experiencing a warming world as I speak, and the indicators and impacts are seen throughout the planet. The report is another signpost to current and future generations.”
Read the full report here.