annual report

2023 was warmest year on Earth since direct observations began. In Berkeley Earth’s analysis 2023 was 1.54 °C above our 1850-1900 average, making it the first year above 1.5 °C. The extreme heat was due to a combination of natural and man-made factors, including global warming and an emerging El Niño event. 17% of the Earth’s surface had a locally warmest year, affecting 2.3 billion people, including significant parts of Asia, South and Central America.

2022 was nominally the fifth warmest year since record keeping began in 1850, as La Niña as kept temperatures a bit cooler. 28 countries, including most of Western Europe, New Zealand, and China set new record high annual averages.