‘Death sentence for ecosystems’ — July 3 recorded as world’s hottest day ever

Average global temperatures have reached a new high as Monday, July 3, was recorded as the world’s hottest day since the 19th century.

Reuters reports that researchers at the US National Centre for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) said the world’s average temperature reached 17.01°C on the day.

This measurement surpasses the record of 16.92°C that had been set since August 2016.

It is believed to be the warmest since satellite monitoring began in 1979, and the highest since instrumental records began in the 19th century.

Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at Grantham institute for climate change and the environment, said: “This is not a milestone we should be celebrating. It’s a death sentence for people and ecosystems”.

Leon Simons, a climate researcher, said the new high is a combination of the naturally occurring El Niño event and carbon dioxide emissions.

“The average global surface air temperature reaching 17C for the first time since we have reliable records available is a significant symbolic milestone in our warming world,” he said.

“Now that the warmer phase of El Niño is starting, we can expect a lot more daily, monthly and annual records breaking in the next 1.5 years.”

Monday’s record temperature comes as the month of June was confirmed as the hottest in record.

The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) had said that global temperatures are likely to surge to record levels in the next five years.