2023 was China's hottest year since records began: HT Explains

Beijing smashed a 23-year-old record in July with 27 consecutive days of temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius.

China's average temperature in 2023 was its hottest since records began. The country's national average temperature last year was 10.7 degrees Celsius exceeding a record of 10.5 degrees Celsius set in 2021. Beijing's National Climate Centre said, “The temperature across most of the country was higher by 0.5C-1C." This caps a a year of extreme weather events in the country.

What data shows on heat wave in China?

People wearing sun protection gear amid a heatwave walk on a street in Beijing, China. (Reuters)

Across China, 127 national weather stations broke records for daily high temperatures in 2023. Beijing smashed a 23-year-old record in July with 27 consecutive days of temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius. The capital also logged its hottest ever late October day in 2023.

What have experts warned on China's extreme weather events?

Experts warned that global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions makes extreme weather more likely as China is the world's biggest emitter of the greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. China is also expected to backtrack on its goals to peak emissions between 2026 and 2030 and become carbon-neutral by 2060 after a recent jump in approvals for coal-fired power plants was reported. The country's air pollution worsened in 2023, the first time it has done so in a decade, a study showed as well.

Is China seeking a solution for extreme weather events?

Other than record-smashing heat in China, 2023 also saw devastating floods across country's north. Last month, China witnessed a persistent cold snap forced authorities to issue alerts as all-time December temperature fell in many parts of the country.