2021 was the fifth warmest year, ever

Copernicus finds warming a reality, 2021 fifth warmest

2021 was the fifth warmest year, ever

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• The story: According to the annual report of Copernicus, European Union’s Earth-observation programme, the year 2021 was the fifth-warmest on record. In 2021, the annual average temperature was 0.3 degree Celsius (°C) higher than the 1991-2020 average and 1.1-1.2°C over the average for the pre-industrial period of 1850-1900.
• Other findings: The last seven years were also the seven warmest on record. The highest average annual temperature was recorded in 2016. The global warming phenomenon in 2021 also triggered extreme weather events across the world. 2021 was yet another year of extreme temperatures with the hottest summer in Europe, heatwaves in the Mediterranean, not to mention the unprecedented high temperatures in North America.

1. Europe experienced its warmest summer ever last year. Both the months of June and July recorded the second-highest average temperatures for the respective months.
2. August was close to the 1991-2020 average but saw wide-ranging temperature anomalies. Both southern and northern Europe recorded above-average temperatures, according to researchers from Copernicus.
3. The maximum temperature in Italy’s Sicily exceeded the previous record of 48°C, the data showed. The unprecedented warming was caused by massive heat waves across the Mediterranean region in July.
4. The same month, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg were swept by climate change-induced floods.
5. In June, above-average surface temperature relative to 1991-2020 persisted across Europe. The Baltic Sea region recorded a temperature anomaly of over 8°C. Moscow recorded its warmest June ever due to massive heat waves.
6. Warm conditions over Europe were part of an arc of unusually high temperatures that extended from northwest Africa, through Europe and south eastwards to Iran, Afghanistan and western Pakistan.  Overall average temperature for Europe was 1.5°C above the 1991-2020 average.

• Anomalies: In July, while parts of Europe were cooler than the 1991-2020 average, they were ravaged by floods. Heatwaves continued uninterrupted across eastern and southeastern Europe. The Baltic Sea experienced above average temperature anomalies over 6°C in July as well. Overall average temperature for Europe in July was 1.5° celsius above the 1991-2020 average.

1. The only July which was warmer than 2021 was in 2010, when Europe’s average for the month was 1.7°C over the 1991-2020 period.
2. The concentration of carbon dioxide and methane, the two biggest greenhouse gasses which contribute to the global warming phenomenon, continued to steadily rise in 2021. Satellite data for carbon dioxide showed April with the highest concentration of carbon dioxide.
3. In 2021, methane concentrations reached an unprecedented level of 1,876 parts per billion units.

• Copernicus programme: Copernicus is the European Union's Earth observation programme, looking at the planet and its environment to benefit all European citizens. It offers information services that draw from satellite Earth Observation and in-situ (non-space) data. The European Commission manages the Programme. It is implemented in partnership with the Member States, the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), EU Agencies and Mercator Océan. Copernicus is served by a set of dedicated satellites (the Sentinel families) and contributing missions (existing commercial and public satellites). The Sentinel satellites are specifically designed to meet the needs of the Copernicus services and their users. Since the launch of Sentinel-1A in 2014, the European Union set in motion a process to place a constellation of almost 20 more satellites in orbit before 2030.

1. The main users of Copernicus services are policymakers and public authorities who need the information to develop environmental legislation and policies or to take critical decisions in the event of an emergency, such as a natural disaster or a humanitarian crisis.
2. The Copernicus programme is coordinated and managed by the European Commission. The development of the observation infrastructure is performed under the aegis of the European Space Agency for the space component and of the European Environment Agency and the Member States for the in situ component.

• Summary: These events are a reminder to humanity of the need to change its ways, take decisive and effective steps toward a sustainable society and work towards reducing net carbon emissions.
• EXAM QUESTIONS: (1) Explain the socio-political-economic impact of ongoing global warming, on India. (2) ‘Global Warming’ can be seen as a cause of rise in epidemics/pandemics. Comment with relevant examples.

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