The cracked earth of the Sau reservoir is visible north of Barcelona, Spain, March 20, 2023.

2023 is the hottest year ever

Full Episode

The cracked earth of the Sau reservoir is visible north of Barcelona, Spain, March 20, 2023. Earth last year shattered global annual heat records, the European climate agency said Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024.

Emilio Morenatti/File/AP

The year 2023 is officially the warmest year on record, by an alarming margin, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. Earth was 1.48 degrees Celsius hotter last year compared to pre-industrial levels — dangerously close to the 1.5-degree threshold flagged in the Paris climate deal. And, the war in Ukraine is close to entering its third year. Yaroslav Trofimov, a war correspondent with The Wall Street Journal, has written a new book, “Our Enemies Will Vanish: The Russian Invasion and Ukraine’s War of Independence.” Also, hearings begin on Thursday at the International Court of Justice at The Hague, where South Africa is accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinians in its Gaza offensive. Israel has rejected the case as “baseless,” but unlike in previous cases at international tribunals, it plans to vigorously defend itself in front of the court. Plus, an immigrant family discovers America in a station wagon.

In This Episode

Hottest year ever
Ski resorts work to combat climate change — but at what cost?
Lunar landing mission doomed
Ukrainian war correspondent talks about reporting on Ukraine war
South Africa brings genocide case against Israel
Fears of far-right infiltration of German farmers’ protests
McDonald’s does the dishes for sit-down diners
Trudeau’s Jamaican vacation
Stories from the Stage: Immigrant family discovers America in station wagon