Last month was one of the hottest Julys ever recorded in the world, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a specialized UN agency based in Geneva, said on Tuesday (August 9).
“
The world has just experienced one of the three hottest Julys on record.
And obviously, as we all know, a very prolonged and very intense heat wave has affected parts of Europe
,” WMO spokesperson Clare Nullis said at a press conference.
Read alsoEurope is suffocating in the heat
In a press release, WMO, citing data from the Copernicus Service on climate change, explains that the past month will have been slightly colder than July 2019 but slightly warmer than July 2016. "
But the difference between these three months is really very low
," said Clare Nullis.
“
The difference is less than the margin of error
”.
Overall, the temperature recorded in the past month exceeded the temperature recorded in July by 0.4°C during the reference period 1991-2020.
And this despite the presence of the natural phenomenon La Niña, which, according to the WMO, “
is supposed to have a cooling effect
”.
Last month, the WMO called for leaders to "
wake
up" to heat waves like the one Europe is currently experiencing, which are set to become more frequent due to climate change at least until the next few years. 2060. According to the WMO, July 2022 did not make it to the top of the podium as some regions of the world recorded below average temperatures along the Western Indian Ocean – Horn of Africa area south of India, over much of central Asia, as well as over most of Australia.
Read alsoHeat wave: the UN hopes for an “awareness” of governments
In addition to the heat wave, some regions of the world are experiencing severe drought.
According to the WMO, July was drier than average in much of Europe, most of North America, large parts of South America, Central Asia and Australia.
By contrast, wetter than average conditions were recorded in eastern Russia, northern China and a wide swath stretching from eastern Africa to northwestern India via Asia.
