Record Heat in 2023-24 Likely Driven by Natural Variability

Speedy Summary

• Record-breaking global temperatures were observed in 2023 and 2024, prompting concerns about possible trends in climate change.
• Some researchers suggest these extreme temperature spikes may be attributed to natural variability rather than representing a new phase of accelerated climate change.
• Karsten Haustein from Leipzig University indicated during a meeting of the European Geosciences Union that this variability aligns with expectations from model predictions.

Image: A photograph depicts Belgium experiencing record temperatures during heat events in 2024 (Photo credit: FREDERIC SIERAKOWSKI/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock).