Much of the Northern Hemisphere has sweltered through an exceptionally hot summer, with Europe recording its warmest June–July period on record and the contiguous United States experiencing its hottest July since modern record-keeping began. South Korea also logged its highest temperature ever measured.
Scientists attribute the extreme heat to a combination of long-term climate change and a rapidly intensifying El Niño event. While El Niño does not add energy to the climate system, it releases heat stored in the ocean into the atmosphere, and when combined with the warming effects of greenhouse gas emissions, the result can be devastating.
The current El Niño, which began developing earlier this year, is expected to peak at more than 3.5 °C above average, potentially making it the strongest on record. Its onset has been unusually fast, described by climate scientist Zeke Hausfather as one of the quickest in the observational record. Because El Niño's impact on global temperatures typically lags by several months, the most significant effects may not be felt until 2027.
Historical patterns support this concern. In past El Niño events, record-breaking temperatures often occurred in the second calendar year of the event. The most recent El Niño, which developed in 2023 and continued into 2024, contributed to 2024 being the hottest year on record.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned in June that "El Niño conditions will pour fuel on the fire of a warming world." He called for urgent climate action, including ending reliance on fossil fuels, accelerating the transition to renewable energy, and protecting vulnerable populations.
In the near term, individuals can prepare by investing in air conditioning, solar panels, backup batteries, or better home insulation. However, experts stress that without significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, global temperatures will continue to rise.
Source: MIT Technology Review
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