Global Temperatures Continue to Rise
Cyprus International University (CIU) Engineering Faculty Lecturer Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sedef Çakır stated that the hottest December of all time in the TRNC was recorded in 2023 and the hottest January was recorded in 2024.
Speaking on the occasion of March 23rd World Meteorological Day, Çakır stated that 2023 was registered as the 3rd hottest year according to TRNC records, and it was the second hottest year for the European continent.
Çakır stated that the theme for World Meteorological Day in 2024 is "At the frontline of climate action." She also said the most popular and dangerous environmental problem of today is undoubtedly global climate change adding "This theme has been proven by scientific studies at international climate conferences and it emphasizes the importance of the steps that need to be taken to stop global warming."
Çakır said that according to the 2023 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, the average earth surface temperature is 1.1 °C warmer than the 1850-1900 pre-industrial period.
“Climate Change and these seemingly tiny increases in global air temperature are causing a rise in the number of extreme weather events such as heat waves, droughts, floods and forest fires.
These also affect biodiversity, ecosystem, vegetation and agricultural activities."
Çakır pointed out that this increase in temperature values is due to the dramatic increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases such as CO2 and Methane due to industrialization, the increase in demand to energy parallel to the increase in population, use of motor vehicles and many other human activities, and that the main factor in the emission of these gases is fossil fuels.
Emphasizing that developed countries are especially responsible for the increase in temperature, Çakır stated they are trying to prevent this problem and take important steps for a sustainable future by limiting the warming in global air temperature to 1.5 °C by 2030.
Çakır stated that the steps and actions to be taken were itemized in the study "taking urgent action to combat climate change and its effects" which is among the sustainable development goals that include resorting to clean energy sources like solar and wind instead of fossil fuels in order to reduce or even eradicate greenhouse gas emissions. She noted that it is important to encourage the use of hybrid and electric vehicles.