Europe had second-warmest yr on file in 2022, EU scientists say By Reuters

By Kate Abnett

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Europe skilled its second-warmest yr on file in 2022, European Union scientists stated on Tuesday, as local weather change unleashed record-breaking climate extremes that slashed crop yields, dried up rivers and led to hundreds of deaths.

The EU’s Copernicus Local weather Change Service (C3S) stated 2022 was additionally the world’s fifth-warmest yr, by a small margin. C3S data date again to 1950, however different, longer datasets affirm 2022 was the world’s fifth-warmest yr since no less than 1850.

The final eight years had been the world’s eight hottest on file, C3S stated.

GRAPHIC: How local weather change unfolded in 2022 https://www.reuters.com/graphics/CLIMATE-CHANGE/EU-SCIENCE/zgvobrbbxpd/graphic.jpg

The planet is now 1.2C hotter than in pre-industrial instances, on account of human-caused local weather change, C3S stated. Copernicus stated temperatures in Europe have elevated by greater than twice the worldwide common over the past three many years.

“We’re already experiencing the devastating penalties of our warming world,” stated C3S deputy director Samantha Burgess, who known as for pressing motion to chop CO2 emissions and adapt to the altering local weather.

Final summer time was Europe’s hottest on file, smashing temperature data in international locations together with Italy, Spain and Croatia. Extreme heatwaves brought about greater than 20,000 “extra” deaths in international locations together with France, Germany, Spain and Britain.

GRAPHIC: Document breaking temperatures in Europe https://www.reuters.com/graphics/CLIMATE-CHANGE/EU-SCIENCE/klvygzgzgvg/graphic.jpg

Mixed with a dearth of rain, the warmth triggered a widespread drought that preliminary evaluation ranked as Europe’s worst in 500 years. Low water ranges delayed delivery alongside Germany’s Rhine, whereas the dearth of rain hit hydropower era and slashed maize and soybean crop yields.

The recent, dry spell fuelled intense wildfires in international locations from Spain to Slovenia, unleashing extra emissions throughout the EU and Britain than in any summer time of the final 15 years.

Britain skilled its hottest yr on file in 2022, its nationwide climate service stated on Wednesday.

GRAPHIC: Temperature deviation in 2022 https://www.reuters.com/graphics/CLIMATE-CHANGE/EU-SCIENCE/egvbymymkpq/graphic.jpg

International temperatures will solely cease rising if international locations cut back their emissions to “internet zero” – that means they launch no extra greenhouse gases into the environment than they take away.

The 27-country EU, Britain, Canada, Japan and others have pledged to succeed in that purpose by 2050, with China and India aiming to attain it later.

Regardless of these long-term pledges, world emissions proceed to rise. Carbon dioxide concentrations within the environment averaged round 417 ppm in 2022 – the best stage for over 2 million years, C3S stated.

Different components of the world confronted a yr of local weather devastation, as world warming continued to hit the world’s poor and weak populations hardest. Flooding in Pakistan killed no less than 1,700 folks, whereas drought decimated livestock populations in Somalia.