Temperature records and their impacts for the summer of 2023

The summer of 2023 was the hottest on record globally, with an average temperature of 16.77°C, 0.66°C above the 1991-2020 average1. The European-average temperature for summer was 19.63°C, which at 0.83°C above average, was the fifth warmest for the summer season1. The global temperature anomaly for the first 8 months of 2023 (January–August) ranks second-warmest on record, only 0.01°C below 2016, currently the warmest year on record1.

The record-breaking heat waves were attributed to man-made climate change and the emerging El Ni?o phenomenon, which increased the sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean2. Scientists have warned that such extreme heat events will become more frequent and intense as the climate crisis worsens2.

Some of the countries and regions that were most affected by the heat waves include:

• Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea and Central America, which were identified as “hot spots” for high-risk heat waves due to their fast-growing populations and limited access to healthcare and energy supplies3. These regions are also vulnerable to droughts, food insecurity and conflicts3.
• Spain, where 552 temperature records were broken across the country for average, maximum and minimum temperatures4. The heat wave also caused water shortages, power outages and crop losses4.
• Canada and the US, where wildfires burned millions of acres of land, destroyed thousands of homes and businesses, and caused poor air quality and health problems5. The fires were fueled by hot, dry and windy conditions that were made at least twice as likely because of climate change5.

The heat waves also had some side effects such as erosion, floods and wildfires in different parts of the world. For example:

• Greece faced a dual crisis of wildfires and floods in August 2023. The wildfires burned more than 500,000 hectares of land, killed four people and forced thousands to evacuate67. The floods followed a day after the fires were contained, triggered by torrential rain that caused landslides, power cuts and road closures67. One person died and several others were injured or missing due to the floods7.
• China experienced both severe flooding and drought in different regions during the summer of 2023. The flooding affected more than 70 million people, killed over 300 people and caused economic losses of over $30 billion8. The drought affected more than 10 million people, damaged over 2 million hectares of crops and reduced water supplies for drinking and irrigation8.
• California faced a higher risk of floods and landslides after the wildfires that burned in 2022. The loss of vegetation and soil stability increased the runoff and erosion during rainstorms, leading to flash floods, debris flows and mudslides9. These events threatened the lives and properties of people living in or near the burn areas9.

This summary shows how the temperature records of the summer of 2023 had significant impacts on various countries and industries around the world. It also shows how the heat waves were linked to other natural disasters such as erosion, floods and wildfires. These events highlight the urgency of addressing the climate crisis and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. They also call for more adaptation and resilience measures to cope with the changing climate conditions.