Experts “gobsmacked” by September’s record high global temperatures

september record temp

This September smashed the previous temperature record set for the month by 0.5ºC, making it the largest leap in temperature ever noted and leading scientists to argue that “the sense of urgency for ambitious climate action has never been more critical”.  

With one scientist, Zeke Hausfather from the Berkeley Earth Climate Data Project, calling the average temperatures of this most recent September “absolutely gobsmackingly bananas”, another has called for world leaders to step up their efforts to combat global warming, and quickly.  

“The unprecedented temperatures for the time of year observed in September – following a record summer – have broken records by an extraordinary amount,” says Samantha Burgess, Deputy Director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), the European entity that provides authoritative information about the past, present and future climate activity around the globe. “This extreme month has pushed 2023 into the dubious honour of first place, on track to be the warmest year and around 1.4°C above preindustrial average temperatures. Two months out from COP28, the sense of urgency for ambitious climate action has never been more critical.” 

Unprecedented temperatures  

Temperatures were up an astonishing 1.8ºC over preindustrial levels, and 0.5ºC on the previous records for the month.  

The average surface air temperature for the planet was 16.38ºC, nearly a degree above the average for 1991 to 2020.  

Weather patterns and carbon emissions blamed  

A flip from La Niña to El Niño and carbon emissions are being blamed as the primary drivers of what was the hottest September on record for the planet.  

El Niño is a climate pattern that sees the unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, thus pushing air temperatures up.  

High levels of carbon dioxide emissions combined with El Niño have created a set of circumstances that has forecasters anticipating 2023 to be the hottest year on record, with 2024 possibly exceeding that.  

France, Germany, Poland and the UK all experienced record-busting warmth in September, while on the other side of the planet, many parts of Australia hit 3ºC to 5ºC above normal.  

 

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Photo source: BCF, Unsplash

Photos: Ancient Grimaldi strongholds in Calabria welcome Prince Albert with open arms

Less than a year since his last visit to the beautiful Italian region, Prince Albert II of Monaco has headed back to Calabria on a mission to tour the newest members of the Grimaldi Historic Sites network.  

The Prince of Monaco regularly makes trips to the places historically linked to his family as a way of strengthening the cultural and community ties between the more than 125 towns and villages across France and Italy that were once connected to the Grimaldis. 

Prince Albert departed on one such trip from 3rd to 4th October, heading south to Calabria on a visit to three places that have now been welcomed into the fold of the Grimaldi Historic Sites network.  

Taurianova, Terranova Sappo Minulio and Seminara

On the first day of his trip, he visited Taurianova, a place ruled over by Grimaldis in the 15th century. There he met the mayor, Rocco Biasi, and together they unveiled the sign designating the town as part of the network.  

Also on the agenda in Taurianova was a tour of Palazzo Contestabile, ahead of a dinner with Biasi and the mayors of the other two destinations on his list – Terranova Sappo Minulio and Seminara – as well as the three former Grimaldi strongholds of Gerace, Cittanova and Molochio, which were visited by the sovereign on a similar endeavour last year.  

On 4th October, Prince Albert moved on to Terranova Sappo Minulio, where he met with Mayor Ettore Tigani and unveiled the sign making the village a Grimaldi Historic Site. The Prince was treated to a violin and piano concert at the Palazzo della Storia, dell’Arte e della Cultura and took a trip to the local church, the Maria Santissima Assunta. 

He moved onto Seminara in the afternoon, which was a Grimaldi-led town in the 16th century. Giovanni Piccolo, the mayor, joined the Prince as he unveiled the Grimaldi Historic Site sign at the town’s entrance and inaugurated a plaque that was placed at the town hall to celebrate his trip. Piccolo also made Prince Albert an honorary citizen.  

The Basilica Santuario Maria Santissima dei Poveri was the Monegasque Prince’s next stop, a church destroyed by an earthquake in 1908 and rebuilt in 1922. His day ended with a stop at the Calabria Ceramics Museum, “which traces the centuries-old history of this ancient tradition and craftsmanship which has made this village world famous”. 

Click on the images below to see more from his trip: 

 

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New Monaco eatery Calypso to host ‘Champagne Brunch’ every Sunday 

champagne brunch monaco

There’s a brand-new brunch spot to try out in Monaco: the Espace Calypso at Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort. Here’s everything you need to know about its signature ‘Champagne Brunch’. 

Food trends come and go, but one that’s here to stay for good in the Principality is brunch. There’s an art to this relaxed and informal in-betweener, and there are many great places to head to in Monaco if you find yourself hankering for a bite to eat with a mimosa or glass of bubbly on the side late morning. 

In fact, back in March of this year, Monaco Life took a tour around some of the Principality’s best brunch spots, which you can read about here.  

But let’s talk about the newest addition to the brunch scene: the ‘Champagne Brunch’ from Michelin-starred chef Marcel Ravin at the only recently launched Espace Calypso.  

“Original and inspired”

The Espace Calypso at Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort is a multi-purpose location. It’s both a stylish restaurant and an events space, which can be fully privatised for corporate occasions, birthday parties, marriages and cocktail evenings.  

champagne brunch monaco
Inside the new Espace Calypso at Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort. Photo credit: Monte-Carlo SBM

From 12.30pm to 3pm every Sunday from now until 30th June 2024, Calypso will be hosting a special brunch event costing €135 per person that’s accompanied by Taittinger Cuvée Prestige. Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, which operates the establishment, refrains from calling this a “bottomless” brunch, but there’s no official limit on the number of glasses and dishes guests can enjoy.  

Ravin, the Head Chef over at the two-Michelin star Blue Bay, is known for his colourful and creative cuisine, and the brunch experience promises a range of plates that’s “rich, original and inspired”.  

Alongside a variety of appetisers, salads and platters to share, there’s also an oyster bar and a space dedicated to “show cooking”, where Ravin and his team will cook up your food right before your eyes. Let’s not forget the mouth-watering display of desserts and sweet treats on display too.  

Live music has been arranged for each brunch date, adding an element of fun and entertainment to an already very enjoyable occasion. 

Read related:

New addition! Where to find the best brunch in Monaco

 

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Photo credits: Monte-Carlo SBM

Casse les Codes: when a businesses centre and networking company collaborate

A first-of-its-kind networking event titled ‘Casse les codes’, organised by Monte-Carlo events at the Monte-Carlo Business Centre, has been deemed a huge success.

With a DJ, two bars, a beer stand, a photobooth, a caviar station, and an appetizer spread, the event was a perfect opportunity to make new connections by bringing different personalities together.

Attendees came from various industries, from government to entrepreneurship, eager to establish new connections, nurture existing ones, and enjoy the food and entertainment.

The co-founder of the Monte-Carlo Business Centre (MCBC), Yann Bertrand, says he was proud to have MCBC as the first business centre in Monaco to host a networking event of this kind.

Breaking the rules

One attendee, who works in publicity and attended the event to establish new networks, said it “broke all the rules” of networking, something which sets it apart of from other corporate networking events in the Principality. “This is a good concept, quite different from what I usually see from this type of place,” he told Monaco Life.

Surprise encounters

The surprises continued with unexpected encounters, as one jewelry brand owner in Monaco told Monaco Life: “It’s surprisingly who you meet. It’s a wonderfully casual way to connect with new people.”

Like-minded people

Another attendee, who works in recruitment and came to support Bertrand, told Monaco Life: “It’s a very interesting idea, we meet like-minded people from our environment.”

In a refreshing departure from conventional networking events, ‘Casse les codes’ showcased how Monaco is embracing and adapting to the dynamic world of entrepreneurs.

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Photo credit: Monaco Life