The recent findings of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) revealed that the beginning of July 2023 was the hottest week on record for the planet. The report came after a string of hot days that caused global temperature records to tumble. In a statement, the WMO said that the first week of July was the hottest on record following climate change and the initial stages of the El Nino weather pattern led to the warmest June on record.
It is the latest in a string of records that have been set midway through a year that has already seen intense heat waves in China and the United States in addition to a drought in Spain. According to the World weather agency, temperatures are shattering records both on land and in the waters, which could have disastrous effects on ecosystems and the environment.
“We are in uncharted territory and we can expect more records to fall as El Nino develops further and these impacts will extend into 2024. This is worrying news for the planet, said Christopher Hewitt, WMO Director of Climate Services. The WMO claimed to have examined numerous datasets from partners across the world. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the current situation across the globe is a testament to the fact that "climate change is out of control."
Impact of hot climate in Europe
A recently published research claimed that more than 61,000 people died due to the heat during Europe’s record-breaking summer in 2022. According to the research published in the journal Nature Medicine, the majority of deaths were of people over the age of 80 and around 63 per cent of those who died due to the heat were women.
Since the mid-1800s, the world has warmed by an average of approximately 1.2 degrees Celsius, causing an upsurge in extreme weather such as more intense heatwaves, more severe droughts in some areas, and storms that are more intense due to rising sea levels.
What is World Meteorological Organisation?
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations liable for promoting international cooperation on atmospheric science, climatology, hydrology and geophysics. It is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 193 Member States and Territories. It originated from the International Meteorological Organization (IMO), the roots of which were planted at the 1873 Vienna International Meteorological Congress.
Established by the ratification of the WMO Convention on March 23, 1950, the WMO became the specialised agency of the United Nations for meteorology (weather and climate), operational hydrology and related geophysical sciences a year later. Headquartered in Geneva, the WMO is governed by the World Meteorological Congress, composed of member states, which meets every four years to set policies and priorities. The World Meteorological Day is held annually on 23 March.
The objective of the WMO
Extreme weather occurrences and information on global, regional, and national temperatures are detailed in the WMO Statement on the Status of the World Climate, which is issued annually. Additionally, it offers details on long-term climate change indicators, such as atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations, sea level rise, and sea ice extent.
The Secretariat, headquartered in Geneva, is headed by the Secretary-General. The present Secretary-General is Celeste Saulo, while the President is Abdulla Al Mandous.
List of Secretaries-General
- 1952–1955 Gustav Swoboda (Switzerland)
- 1956–1979 David Arthur Davies (United Kingdom)
- 1980–1983 Aksel C Wiin-Nielsen (Denmark)
- 1984–2003 Godwin Obasi (Nigeria)
- 2004–2015 Michel Jarraud (France)
- 2016–2023 Petteri Taalas Finland)
- 2023–present Celeste Saulo (Argentina)
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