June 28, 2024 — Lethal heat waves this month hit the US and other regions throughout the Northern hemisphere, including India and the eastern Mediterranean. June will probably mark the 13th consecutive month of average global temperatures that exceed all observations in records going back to 1850. The primary explanation is, of course, that emissions and concentrations of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) have in recent years increased even more rapidly than had been feared.
- A pleasant surprise
In one area, however, progress in the fight against global climate change has been greater than had been expected. Use of solar power and other sources of renewable energy in the US and the European Union has risen rapidly. The beginnings of an historic shift from internal combustion engines to electric–powered vehicles (EVs) have multiplied the importance of the switch to solar and wind sources of electric power.