Following a record-wet December, global precipitation reached near-record levels in January.
Most of North America, Asia, and Australia experienced wetter-than-normal conditions, while southern Africa and most of South America were drier-than-normal.
The record-breaking trends seen for most of 2023 will continue into 2024. For the eighth month in a row, new heat records were set.
Meanwhile, sea surface temperatures have been at record highs for 10 consecutive months.
The need for action is 'clearer than ever'
The U.N. climate agency UNFCC, which hosts the annual COP meeting, tweeted that Thursday's statistics “make the urgency of tackling climate change clearer than ever.”
UNFCCC declares 'time to act', countries must implement climate change plans consistent with limiting global warming to below 1.5°C outlined in the Paris Agreement nearly a decade ago declared that it should be moved to
The new data was provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NASA, the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Office, and the Japan Meteorological Agency.
These are four of the six international datasets included in WMO's climate change report.
That report is expected to be released next month. But so far, the agency has already admitted that 2023 was the warmest year on record due to human-induced climate change and the warming El Niño phenomenon.
Sudan: UN envoy leads 'new engagement' to end fighting
Sudan's Secretary-General's personal envoy is leading a “new engagement” by the United Nations to end brutal fighting between government forces and rival RSF militias.
Speaking to reporters in New York on Thursday, United Nations Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Ramtan Ramamara was committed to “supporting and working closely with African and other regional and international partners in political and mediation efforts.” “We are working hard to strengthen multilateral cooperation centered on the
He said the deteriorating situation on the ground “needs to intensify efforts to end the current conflict.”
The conflict, which began in April last year, has left more than 25 million people dependent on humanitarian aid and forced nearly 8 million people from their homes, including 1.6 million who have fled across the Sudanese border.
Abyei is a disputed area on the border between Sudan and South Sudan.
Ramamala has embarked on an extensive diplomatic career that has taken him to major capitals in the Horn of Africa, Europe and the Gulf region, with the aim of “resuming a credible political process”.
abyei riots
Dujarric added that the UN peacekeeping mission in the disputed Abyei region, UNISFA, said on Thursday that “intensified levels” of patrols continued as intercommunal tensions persisted.
On Wednesday, peacekeepers responded to a gunfight between two groups in Rumamiye, south of Abyei.
Two civilians were reportedly killed during the fighting, and in response the mission maintained a presence in the area, carrying out patrols to protect civilians.
UNISFA also continues to engage with stakeholders to defuse tensions and provide long-term security, the UN spokesperson added.
International Childhood Cancer Day: Parents' role matters
On this year's International Childhood Cancer Day, the United Nations health agency WHO said parents, along with family doctors and pediatricians, play an important role in early detection.
More than 1,000 children are diagnosed with cancer every day around the world. Recent medical advances have increased the chances of survival in high-income countries, with more than 80 percent of diagnosed children surviving.
However, in some low- and middle-income countries, only about 20% of children diagnosed survive.
To change this, WHO launched the Global Initiative on Childhood Cancer in 2018. Its main goal is to reduce the survival gap by 2030.
The organization aims to ensure that at least 60% of children with cancer around the world survive their diagnosis.
Achieving this goal will depend on strengthening health systems to help primary health care providers, including parents, detect early signs of childhood cancer, WHO said.
A referral system that can provide specialized care is also an important element, the agency said.
