This video explores the local experience of climate change, during the Autumn of 2022, in Vila Real de Santo António, South of Portugal. In this region, already inflicted by the effects of desertification and rising temperatures, on this day, the temperature was 9ºC above the average for the month, and 5ºC above the average maximum for the month. According to the the National Institute of Meteorology (IPMA), this was not a one time measurement: for the whole month of November, and taking into account the whole country, the daily average temperature was +1.08ºC superior to the normal, being the 3rd highest since 2000. Average rainfall in the region was less than 50% below the average, with this area still facing an extreme drought. Copernicus Climate Change Service revealed that Europe had its 3rd warmest autumn in 2022 at 1°C above normal, and that temperatures were particularly high on the west of the continent.

*Daily average temperature was 14,8ºC and average maximum temperature was 19,4ºC for November, in Vila Real de Santo António, between 1971-2000. Data source: IPMA (4 November 2022).