The world is experiencing an alarming climate milestone, enduring 12 consecutive months of record-breaking heat, according to data from Copernicus, the EU’s climate monitoring service. From June 2023 to May 2024, each month set new temperature records, with the average global temperature 1.63 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. This breach signifies the severe impact of human-induced climate change.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres addressed this crisis during a speech in New York, condemning fossil fuel companies as “godfathers of climate chaos.” He called for a ban on advertising fossil fuel products and urged global leaders to take immediate action to avoid catastrophic climate tipping points. “We are playing Russian roulette with our planet,” Guterres warned, emphasizing the need to reduce fossil fuel pollution.

The extreme heat has already caused significant devastation worldwide. In India, temperatures nearing 50 degrees Celsius resulted in numerous deaths. Southeast Asia faced school closures and crop failures, while Mexico witnessed howler monkeys dying from the heat. The intense temperatures also fueled heavy rainfall and destructive storms across the U.S., Brazil, Kenya, and the UAE.

Climate experts highlight that every fraction of a degree increase exposes more people to dangerous heat levels. With El Niño expected to weaken, temperatures may temporarily drop but the overall trend of rising global temperatures persists.

Guterres called for drastic measures, including a halt to new coal projects and substantial cuts in oil and gas production. He emphasized the need for richer nations to support poorer, climate-vulnerable countries. “We cannot accept a future where the rich are protected in air-conditioned bubbles, while the rest of humanity is lashed by lethal weather in unliveable lands,” he stated.