Yes, you read that right. I was confused, too. But mostly in shock.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), “February 1985 was the last month when global temperatures were below the 20th century average.”
This shows just how long climate change has been a public problem – meaning this is not just some fleeting phenomenon. Risks of climate change include droughts, floods and heat waves, which are all a side-effect of higher global temperatures.
Just as a reminder: global climate is not the same as temperatures day-to-day. Yes, sometimes we have an all-time-low temperature day in the summer when it’s supposed to be hot outside, but the temperature average over the whole month is higher. This shows an increasing temperature pattern.
For more information, read the piece by Reuters.
Abbey Dufoe 