Currently — May 18, 2023: World now on the brink of 1.5°C

May 17, 2023

The weather, currently.

On Wednesday, the World Meteorological Organization declared that for the first time ever, the world is now more likely than not to reach warming of 1.5 degrees C above preindustrial levels within the next five years.

On top of that, an exceptionally warm start to the year and the growing odds for El Niño mean that, according to Berkeley Earth, 2023 is now more likely than not to become the hottest year in human history.

It's moments like this that the urgency of the climate crisis springs into full view. This is a moment for grief and worry, and also a moment for collective action. We owe it to each other and to ourselves to pour our hearts into the movement to bring about radical and systemic change to all aspects of our Earth.

— Eric Holthaus

 Following a warm March & April, and with a potential strong El Niño looming, the @BerkeleyEarth forecast for 2023 has again shifted up.

It is now slightly more likely than not that 2023 becomes the warmest year in the instrumental record (56% chance).https://t.co/CoAIs1KhQ0 pic.twitter.com/ywyWGvhwXH— Dr. Robert Rohde (@RARohde) May 17, 2023 

What you can do, currently.

Paid members will have a truly premium weather experience. Here's some of what we have planned:

  • Text directly with Eric, our founder, who will personally answer your weather questions and give you a customized forecast on demand.

  • Our first weather app, which will put your daily weather in the context of climate change, no matter where you are, anywhere in the world.

  • Reader-ownership — an experiment in direct democracy so that Currently can remain accountable to our most important stakeholders, you, the readers.

We have SO MANY more exciting features planned, but we can't do this without your direct support. Your paid membership makes Currently possible.