July 2023 is on track to be the hottest month in recorded history, according to scientists. The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has warned that Earth has entered an "era of global boiling" and called for immediate radical action on climate change.

According to @WMO & @CopernicusECMWF, July 2023 is set to be the hottest month ever recorded in human history.

🚨 Humanity is in the hot seat 🚨

No more hesitancy. No more excuses. No more waiting for others to move first. We must unite to take bold #ClimateAction NOW. pic.twitter.com/v3y1MXP7NB

— UN Youth Envoy (@UNYouthEnvoy) July 28, 2023

Guterres described the intense heat witnessed across the Northern Hemisphere as a "cruel summer" and emphasized that climate change is no longer a future threat but a terrifying reality.

The World Meteorological Organization and Europe's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) confirmed that the first three weeks of July have already registered global average temperatures higher than any previous period.

It is "extremely likely" that July 2023 will be the hottest month on record since the 1940s. Carlo Buontempo, Director of C3S, stated that these temperatures are "remarkable" and possibly even "unprecedented in our history in the last few thousand years."

The burning of fossil fuels has contributed to a 1.2 degrees Celsius increase in global warming since the late 1800s. This has made heatwaves more intense, longer, and more frequent, leading to other extreme weather events like storms and floods.

The World Meteorological Organization has declared the past eight years as the warmest on record, highlighting the urgency to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warns that the era of global warming has ended and “the era of global boiling has arrived” after scientists said July was the world’s hottest month on record.

— Yasir Mahmood (@MofaYasir) July 27, 2023

The consequences of climate change are already evident, with devastating wildfires and extreme heatwaves affecting millions of people worldwide. US President Joe Biden held a conference with city mayors to address the extreme temperatures experienced, emphasizing the importance of heat-related safety measures. Authorities in Beijing urged the elderly to stay indoors and advised children to limit outdoor playtime due to unprecedented heat.

The Mediterranean region faced raging wildfires, while bathtub-like temperatures off south Florida threatened coral reefs. To combat the dire consequences of climate change, Guterres called for bold and swift action.

He urged developed countries to commit to achieving carbon neutrality by 2040 and emerging economies to strive towards the same goal by 2050. Guterres emphasized that the destructive impacts of climate change should inspire action rather than despair. Humanity must transform a year of burning heat into a "year of burning ambition" to prevent the worst outcomes.

The record-breaking temperatures and extreme weather events experienced in July should serve as a wake-up call for the world to prioritize climate action. The time for hesitancy and excuses is over. Leaders must take the lead and move towards a sustainable and low-carbon future. The future of the planet depends on immediate and concerted efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change.