(1/9) With 99% of this epic rollercoaster of a year completed, time to reveal an estimate of 2020’s global temperature: As far as GISTEMP is concerned, it’s likely a draw with 2016, the warmest year so far. https://data.giss.nasa.gov/gistemp/maps/index.html #ClimateChange

(2/9) The anomaly relative to 1981-2010 is 0.59°C in both years (2020 preliminary of course), which corresponds to 1.22°C relative to late 19th century (1880-1899). The reason 2020 didn’t end up beating 2016 is down to a rather 'normal' December compared to the record-warm Nov.

(3/9) December turned out to be the only month this year with a considerable cold anomaly over Eurasia, a feature which tends to dampen global temperature in most circumstances. On top of that, we are in a moderate La Niña state which acts to cool as well. http://www.karstenhaustein.com/climate 

(4/9) With another year above the 1.2°C threshold, what is the human-induced warming to date? Let’s turn to our own GlobalWarmingIndex, which suggests 1.17°C attributable human-induced warming relative to 1850-1900. @ecioxford https://www.globalwarmingindex.org 

(5/9) Adding the latest MetOffice global temperature update (HadCRUT5), we have likely reached 1.2°C manmade warming already. Considering the latest trend of human-induced warming (0.23°C / decade), we will have reached 1.5°C in 2034. http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2020/12/an-ever-more-perfect-dataset/

(6/9) As always, crossing the 1.5°C threshold doesn’t imply impending doom. It’s just one step closer to 2°C, which isn’t the end of the world either. Every tenth of a degree which we are unable to avoid increases global inequalities and the risk for severe ecologic disruption.

(7/9) Thanks to #FridaysForFuture and all activists around the globe, #ClimateChange has eventually received the attention it needs. Not sure we will act quickly enough though. The Pandemic has shown the good and the bad in human’s ability to respond to a grave danger:

(8/9) We have developed a vaccine in under a year, which is mind-blowing. And we have acted once people started to suffer from Covid. Yet most countries only always reacted as emergency relieve, not before shit hit the fan. Despite all the warnings and advice from scientists.

(9/9) This is concerning when it comes to #ClimateChange for there is no vaccine to reverse it and for there is no climate-lockdown to stop the change once shit hits the fan too frequently. So let’s hope we learn and do better. Let’s continue the fight for a climate-safe world!

P.S.: This is a great way to show where 2020 has been warmest. Many areas in the Northern Hemisphere had a top-five year this year: https://twitter.com/gjvoldenborgh/status/1341415788582977536