[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.environmentmatters.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/will-2023-be-the-year-tat-was-1.jpg” alt=”Will 2023 be the year that was or merely a prelude of the years to come?” title_text=”will-2023-be-the-year-tat-was-1″ show_in_lightbox=”on” _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”12px” text_orientation=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
A helicopter battles the McDougall Creek wildfire as it burns in the hills of West Kelowna, British Columbia, on Aug. 17. (Darren Hull\/AFP\/Getty Images)<\/em><\/p>\n \u200b<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”2nd Paragraph” _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”34px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n It is likely that 2023 will be remembered as the point at which humanity\u2019s inability to deal with a climate crisis of its own making<\/strong> the was finally and fully exposed. \u00a0Will 2023 be also remembered as an inflection upon which the science is truly accepted by society thereby driving radical and rapid change?\u00a0 Or will the heat anomaly and catastrophes of 2023 be looked back upon as one of the cooler, more stable years in people\u2019s lives.<\/p>\n This past year has now been confirmed as the hottest year in recorded history \u2013 <\/strong>a record surpassed by a large margin and much sooner than predicted.\u00a0 Scientists repeatedly expressed shock as successive heat records fell, and warned the world is moving dangerously close to the 1.5-degree limit that nearly 200 countries sought to avoid in the Paris Agreement in 2015.<\/p>\n Deaths from heat stroke are at an all-time high around the world. Millions around the globe are now stranded in inhospitable conditions by global heating. The graph shows some of the many records broken \u2013 these from the global measurements just prior to the year end. There were countless local records also surpassed.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.16.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.environmentmatters.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/will-2023-be-the-year-that-was-2.jpg” alt=”global atmospheric temperatures ” title_text=”will-2023-be-the-year-that-was-2″ show_in_lightbox=”on” _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_orientation=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Please Click to Enlarge<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n In addition to global atmospheric temperatures \u2013 many other records were were smashed in 2023 including:<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text Area” _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The climate extremes of 2023 were impossible to ignore thus raising overall awareness about the extent of the climate emergency. There were some positive signs of movement in the right direction. \u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.environmentmatters.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/will-2023-be-the-year-that-was-3.jpg” alt=”2023 WAS ALSO A YEAR FOR SOME HOPE” title_text=”will-2023-be-the-year-that-was-3″ show_in_lightbox=”on” _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.environmentmatters.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/will-2023-be-the-year-that-was-4.jpg” alt=”global atmospheric temperatures ” title_text=”will-2023-be-the-year-that-was-4″ show_in_lightbox=”on” _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_orientation=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Please Click to Enlarge<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n According to most predictions, 2024 will be as hot or hotter than 2023<\/strong>. Vast areas of Earth\u2019s oceans were record-warm for most of 2023, and it will take many months for that heat to be released. Moreover, an intense episode of the planet-warming El Ni\u00f1o climate pattern is nearing its peak, and the last time that happened, it pushed the planet to record warmth (in 2016).<\/p>\n It is also likely that the momentum that has been building towards the transition away from fossil fuels, will continue. Afterall, the awareness about the climate emergency within the public is higher than it has ever been. Any kind of denial about the reality climate change has been burned to a crisp.<\/strong><\/p>\n As well, many scientists are increasingly optimistic about the power of technology to change the world, and in terms of our fight against climate change it\u2019s one of the strongest levers that we have.<\/p>\n Massive forms of activism though, would be an even stronger lever<\/strong>. Political will depends on the mood of voters. What worries me is the trend towards extreme right-wing politics<\/strong> along with disinformation tactics<\/strong> that can easily work towards pushing the stop button on progress and even take us backwards<\/strong>. As I wrote in a previous article, capital has an outsized influence on politics thus sowing decades of division while the situation has worsened. In fact \u2013 Capital is rewarded by governments around the world, with\u00a0subsidies estimated by the World Bank to be 23 million dollars per minute<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Indeed, capital (or big money) had an outsized influence on the last COP<\/strong> conference with oil industry lobbyists outnumbering the delegates of many developed countries <\/strong>–\u00a0 \u00a0hence a weakened commitment. Many from the science community feel that the text included language to placate fossil fuel interests and thus fell far short of what was needed on emissions reductions and finance to help the most vulnerable cope with worsening extreme weather and heat. The statement should, as a minimum, have stated the need to \u201cphase out\u201d of instead of \u201ca transition away\u201d<\/strong> from fossil fuels. In instances like these \u2013 words do matter.<\/p>\n Where does all this leave us? My conclusion is the same as for my last article. Short of donating to environmental organizations, or initiating our own forms of advocacy, the most important action we can individually do is to\u00a0vote for our future and convince others to do the same.<\/u> <\/strong>Politics matter \u2013 especially this year with so many critical elections taking place. \u00a0Any politician that does not acknowledge the crises the planet is facing and endorse a legitimate set of plans to deal with climate change and planetary destruction\u00a0is not fit for office<\/strong>. We all have the power to ensure this happens and to advocate for change.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n NOTE<\/strong><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/environment\/2023\/dec\/13\/cop28-landmark-deal-agreed-to-transition-away-from-fossil-fuels<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.ncei.noaa.gov\/access\/monitoring\/monthly-report\/global-drought\/202311#:~:text=Globally%2C%20November%202023%20ranked%20as,some%20cases%2C%20countering%20beneficial%20precipitation<\/a>.<\/p>\nWill 2023 be the year that was or merely a prelude of the years to come?<\/h2>\n
2023 WAS A YEAR OF EXTREMES<\/h3>\n
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2023 WAS ALSO A YEAR FOR SOME HOPE<\/h3>\n
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LOOKING AHEAD TO 2024<\/h3>\n