The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) has revealed that the global mean temperature for the past twelve months (Feb 2023 – Jan 2024) is the highest on record, at 1.52C above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial average.

The record temperatures are higher than the limits set in 2015 Paris Agreement, but do not, in themselves, mean that the Agreement is breached.

Samantha Burgess, deputy director of C3S said: "2024 starts with another record-breaking month – not only is it the warmest January on record but we have also just experienced a 12-month period of more than 1.5C above the pre-industrial reference period. Rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are the only way to stop global temperatures increasing.”

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