'Era Of Global Boiling Has Arrived': UN Chief Says Global Warming Has Ended As July Set To Be Hottest Month

United Nationals Secretary-General António Guterres said that the era of global warming has ended and the era of global boiling has arrived.

People spend time near a fountain during extreme heat wave in New York, United States ( Image Source :Getty Images )

The global heatwave has taken a toll on people across the country with the mercury rising at record levels and raising concerns over what lies ahead for the planet and earthlings. As the increasing temperature continues to wreak havoc, United Nations secretary general António Guterres said that the era of global warming has ended and “the era of global boiling has arrived”. The statement came after scientists confirmed that July was on track to be the world’s hottest month on record, reported The Guardian. 

"Climate change is here. It is terrifying. And it is just the beginning," Guterres said. "It is still possible to limit global temperature rise to 1.5C [above pre-industrial levels], and avoid the very worst of climate change. But only with dramatic, immediate climate action." 

According to The Guardian, scientists confirmed on Thursday that the past three weeks have been the hottest since records began and July is on track to be the hottest month ever recorded. According to a report in Reuters, scientists have calculated that July is "virtually certain" to be the world's warmest month on record. The report mentioned that researchers are confident that July is likely to be the warmest human civilisation has seen in the last 120,000 years.    

According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the EU’s Copernicus Earth observation programme, global temperatures this month have shattered records.  

The persistent rise in global average temperatures, driven by pollution that traps sunlight and acts like a greenhouse around the Earth, has intensified the hot weather occurrences.  

"Humanity is in the hot seat," Guterres told a press conference on Thursday. "For vast parts of North America, Asia, Africa and Europe, it is a cruel summer. For the entire planet, it is a disaster. And for scientists, it is unequivocal – humans are to blame," he added. 

"All this is entirely consistent with predictions and repeated warnings. The only surprise is the speed of the change. Climate change is here, it is terrifying, and it is just the beginning. The era of global warming has ended; the era of global boiling has arrived." 

 Urging lawmakers and policymakers to take action, Guterres said, "The air is unbreathable, the heat is unbearable, and the level of fossil fuel profits and climate inaction is unacceptable. Leaders must lead. No more hesitancy, no more excuses, no more waiting for others to move first. There is simply no more time for that." 

"It is still possible to limit global temperature rise to 1.5C and avoid the very worst of climate change but only with dramatic, immediate climate action. We have seen some progress – a robust rollout of renewables and some positive steps from sectors such as shipping – but none of this is going far enough or fast enough. Accelerating temperatures demand accelerated action," he further said, as per the official document stating the comments made by the UN secretary general. 

The WMO secretary general, Petteri Taalas, said: "The need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is more urgent than ever before. Climate action is not a luxury but a must." 

Karsten Haustein of Leipzig University found the world was 1.5C (2.7F) hotter in July 2023 than in the average July before industrialisation, The Guardian reported. 

He said that July had been so outrageous that scientists could predict it would be the warmest on record, even before it was over. 

The Guardian mentioned that Haustein took the global temperature estimates from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the US and found that July 2023 was likely to surpass the previous record from 2019 by 0.2C. 

According to a rapid analysis from the World Weather Attribution network, greenhouse gas pollution has taken up the temperatures of deadly heatwaves on three continents this month. The study is reported to have found that humanity made the heatwaves in southern Europe, North America and China 2.5C, 2C and 1C hotter respectively. 

Notably, world leaders will be joining the COP-28 meet in the United Arab Emirates in November to agree on ways to stop the planet's heating, adapt to more extreme weather and pay for the damage, the report added.