Editor, Gazette-Journal:
We did it! We’ve achieved a global monthly average surface temperature increase of over 2.7 degrees from pre-industrial levels for 12 months in a row! Back in 2015, the world’s leaders met and agreed to a goal of limiting climate change to an acceptable level. They agreed to a global average temperature increase goal of 3.6 degrees or less and to make every effort to hold the increase to less than 2.7 degrees. Why were the values of 2.7 degrees and 3.6 degrees selected? Based on what we knew in 2015, it was thought that these goals would limit catastrophic effects of climate change.
Not only have we shot past 2.7 degrees from July 2023 through June 2024 but it looks like we’re well on our way to continuing the streak with July 21 through July 24 being the hottest four days ever recorded.
This major milestone in global heating has been accompanied by record-breaking hurricanes/cyclones, rain storms, floods, heat waves, and other disasters around the world. For t...