China experienced its warmest autumn since record-keeping began in 1961, the National Climate Center announced today, with temperatures 1.5 degrees Celsius higher than the average.
Between September 1 and November 30, the national average temperature was 11.8 degrees Celsius, compared to the historical average of 10.3 degrees, the agency stated in a post on the Chinese social media platform WeChat.
As the world’s largest emitter of carbon dioxide (CO2), China, like the rest of the globe, is facing significant increases in average temperatures, leading to more frequent heatwaves, droughts, and floods. Rapid urbanisation and industrialisation have further exacerbated urban heat islands in the country.
Beijing has pledged that CO2 emissions will peak by 2030 and reach net zero by 2060.
The extreme temperatures recorded during the autumn impacted different regions of China unevenly, according to a detailed statement from the National Climate Center.
The central regions of the country experienced the sharpest increases, with temperature rises of 4 to 6 degrees Celsius in some areas of Jiangxi and Hubei provinces. Western regions like Xinjiang also recorded significant increases.
In total, 16 provinces and regions, including Liaoning, Tianjin, and Chongqing, reported record-breaking temperatures since 1961.
China had already recorded its hottest August since 1961, following a summer marked by extreme weather events and heatwaves that affected many northern and western regions.
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Source: ANA-MPA
