Record August temperatures confirmed: summer 2023 was the hottest summer in...

NASA Climate Change 2 years ago

Record August temperatures confirmed: summer 2023 was the hottest summer in NASA’s temperature record, by a large margin. 🥵This summer continues a long-term trend of rising temperatures caused by human activities. All three months of summer 2023 broke records. July 2023 was the hottest month ever in NASA’s GISTEMP record, and the hottest July. June 2023 was the hottest June, and August 2023 was the hottest August. 🌡️ NASA’s GISTEMP temperature record starts in 1880 and uses millions of measurements of surface temperature from weather stations, ships and ocean buoys, and Antarctic research stations. Other agencies and organizations who keep similar global temperature records find the same pattern of long-term warming. Earth is already feeling the effects of climate change, and the events of summer 2023 are a prime example. Wildfires scorched Canada in June, a heat dome settled over the American Southwest in July, and intense storms like Idalia lashed the U.S. in August. Video description: Two stacked data visualizations. Between them, white text reads “Summer 2023 Was the Hottest in NASA’s Record.” On top, a line graph with monthly temperature anomalies from each year from 1880 to 2023 grows across the graph to create a stacked bell shape. The Y-axis is labeled negative 3 degrees Celsius to 3 degrees Celsius and the X-axis has each month from January to December. As time goes on, the curved lines stack higher and higher, and the colors of the lines change from white and blue to dark red. Finally, the 2023 line stops at August, the latest month we have data, and it’s clear that June, July, & August 2023 were all hotter than any previous respective month. On the bottom, a map of the globe with temperature anomalies in Celsius. Anomalies up to 3 degrees higher than average are shown in red. Anomalies up to 3 degrees lower than average are shown in blue. The animation shows August temperature anomalies starting in 1880 through 2023. As the animation plays, various areas are red or blue. By the end, nearly everywhere on Earth is some shade of red except for some places in the Antarctic. #Earth #NASA #Climate #ClimateChange #GlobalWarming #Summer

layersDaily Sustainability Digest

Published about 19 minutes ago



The regeneration of Sighthill in Glasgow is moving forward at scale, led by Keepmoat, with hundreds of new energy‑efficient homes and major infrastructure improvements. The scheme highlights sustainable urban development in practice, with strong focus on community links, job creation and low carbon building standards. Delivering housing with reduced Whole Life Carbon is central to driving environmental sustainability in construction across the UK.

In Glastonbury, Beard Construction has started work on the adaptive reuse of Baily’s Buildings, a former industrial site. The approach of retrofitting existing structures demonstrates how Embodied Carbon reduction can be achieved while preserving historic character. The project reflects rising demand for sustainable building design that aligns with Circular Economy in construction principles, lowering the carbon footprint of construction while providing long‑term Life Cycle Cost savings.

Across Europe, climate risks are shifting priorities. Extreme heat and flooding are disrupting construction schedules and damaging materials, with economic costs projected to reach billions. The sector faces mounting pressure for climate‑resilient and sustainable design solutions. Adopting eco‑design for buildings, low carbon construction materials and lifecycle assessment frameworks will be essential to enhance building lifecycle performance and safeguard investment resilience.

Global demand for air conditioning is exposing the urgent need for low carbon design. Without radical improvements in passive cooling, natural ventilation and insulation standards, energy‑efficient buildings risk being undermined by runaway emissions. Transitioning to net zero carbon buildings requires both technological innovation and a holistic Whole Life Carbon Assessment to secure carbon footprint reduction across the building lifecycle.

Digitalisation is also influencing sustainable construction pathways. Veolia’s launch of its North American Hubgrade Centre, while focused on utilities, signals the integration of data‑driven tools into sustainable building practices. Such systems have clear relevance for resource efficiency in construction, enabling improved environmental product declarations (EPDs), energy optimisation and smarter circular construction strategies.

Public investment is increasingly underpinning decarbonising the built environment. The UK’s Great British Energy initiative will fund new renewable infrastructure to support carbon neutral construction and net zero Whole Life Carbon goals. Affordable clean energy strengthens the ecosystem for eco‑friendly construction and sustainable material specification, ensuring the next generation of green construction projects can thrive economically while reducing the environmental impact of construction.

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Whole Life Carbon is a platform for the entire construction industry—both in the UK and internationally. We track the latest publications, debates, and events related to whole life guidance and sustainability. If you have any enquiries or opinions to share, please do get in touch.