On January 12, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) declared 2022 the fifth warmest year on record, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ranked 2022 as the sixth warmest year on record, and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) declared that the past eight years were the warmest globally based on six international weather data sets. NASA also reported that the summer in North America has been the warmest on record, especially in the northern regions.

According to NASA, the Arctic region in particular has experienced warming at levels nearly four times the global average. A variety of factors contribute to the annual temperatures, with 2022 joining the ranks of the warmest years on record, despite a third consecutive year of La Niña. The La Niña event may have had the effect of lowering global temperatures by about 0.06°C. NOAA, which is conducting an independent analysis, says it uses a different baseline period and methodology than NASA, but they agree on the long-term warming trend.

According to the WMO, global temperatures in 2022 was about 1.15 [1.02 to 1.27] °C higher than pre-industrial (1850-1900) levels, and above 1°C for eight consecutive years from 2015 to 2022. The possibility of even temporarily exceeding the 1.5 °C limit set by the Paris Agreement is imminent. The 10-year average temperature for 2013-2022 is 1.14 [1.02 - 1.27] °C above pre-industrial levels and 1.09 °C above the 2011-2020 period average as estimated by 6th IPCC report, indicating that long-term warming continues.

As one of your New Year's resolution for 2023, why don't you work on reducing your carbon footprint which you can personally implement?

Contributor: IIYAMA Miyuki (Information Program)