July 2024: Second Hottest Month on Record Globally

July 2024 marked the hottest month ever recorded in California, with Death Valley experiencing temperatures as high as 129°F and several cities breaking all-time heat records. Despite July 2024 being slightly cooler than July 2023, it was the second-warmest July globally, highlighting the ongoing threat of climate change. This extreme heat is part of a global trend driven by human-caused climate change, leading to more frequent and severe weather events like wildfires and flooding. The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns that the window to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels is closing. Record-breaking temperatures and climate conditions continue to have devastating impacts worldwide, including deadly heatwaves, flooding, and severe wildfires. Scientists emphasize the urgent need for significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate these effects.