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Even though the dataset used for the unofficial record goes back only to 1979, Dr Kapnick said that given other data, the world is likely seeing the hottest day in "several hundred years that we've experienced."

Scientists generally use much longer measurements — months, years, decades — to track the Earth's warming. But the daily highs are an indication that climate change is reaching uncharted territory.

“People are becoming more aware of the severity of heatwaves, but not the link between heatwaves and climate change,” says Zhao Li, a senior researcher for Greenpeace east Asia’s Beijing office.

That is partly because, although there is some limited education about climate change, permitted discourse stops short of talking about major policy shifts, such as reducing China’s coal emissions more rapidly. The government has pledged to become carbon neutral by 2060, but concerns about energy security and the need for economic growth mean that local authorities are showing no sign of backing down on building new coal power.

Also, says Zhao, “even if people link heatwaves and climate change, they don’t think it’s something that the individual should pay attention to.” Most people see it as being the government’s responsibility – and therefore out of the hands of the public, she says.

The prolonged spell of rain is predicted to bring widespread totals in the range of 50 to 100mm from the Kimberley through to the southern parts of the Northern Territory and on to tropical Queensland.

If it eventuates, it will be the most widespread winter falls in at least 16 years and well above the average rainfall for the entire season which for most of tropical Australia sits at less than 25mm.

yikes!!

The analysis showed that that most of the research selected by the media was biased to the natural sciences. It overly focused on large-scale climate projections that will occur in the future, and a narrow range of threats such as polar bears, drought and melting glaciers. The paper shows that this type of narrative does not activate the mechanisms known from research on psychology that might engage pro-environmental behaviors in readers.

The study speaks of a possible distancing reaction on the part of the public, resulting from this globalizing approach. "The individuals exposed to these facts, not feeling directly concerned by them, will tend towards a peripheral, superficial and distracted treatment of the information. Only a central, deep and attentive consideration will allow the public to transform what they know into mechanisms of action and commitment," explains Fabrizio Butera, professor at the Institute of Psychology of the UNIL, and co-author of the study.

Several locations across regional NSW experienced their coldest June morning on record:

Bathurst: -7.5 degrees, records going back 33 years
Hillston: -4 degrees, records going back 64 years
Peak Hill: -2.8 degrees, records going back 56 years
Paterson: -0.3 degrees, records going back 54 years

Michael Leunig cartoon

"This has never happened in Ballia. I have never seen people dying because of the heat in such large numbers," he said.

"People fear venturing out. The roads and markets are largely deserted."

Ballia, along with central and eastern Uttar Pradesh, is currently grappling with oppressive heat.

On Sunday, the district experienced a maximum temperature of 43 degrees Celsius, surpassing the normal range by five degrees.

Authorities had initially suspected bird flu, but a joint effort from the country's agriculture and environment ministries concluded the most likely reason was warmer oceans resulting from El Niño.

The periodic natural phenomenon, which lasts between months and years, warms the Pacific Ocean fuelling tropical cyclones, floods and rainfall across the Americas and elsewhere.

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) earlier this month declared that an El Nino is now under way, after three years dominated by the cooler La Nina pattern.

In an open letter published in newspapers on Wednesday, a group of nearly 100 scientists urged the government to abandon fracking in the Beetaloo, saying doing so would be catastrophic for the environment.

The Nurrdalinji Native Title Aboriginal Corporation, which represents traditional owners in the Beetaloo Basin, also said the government had "broken its promise" by not implanting all the inquiry's recommendations.

"In communities it's clear that the government has not done a proper job of making sure Aboriginal people understand the huge impact fracking will have on our country and that our voice is heard," corporation chair Johnny Wilson said.

Mr Wilson was also sceptical that economic benefits would be passed on to traditional owners.

This year could be a watershed moment in Earth's climate history.

Major global climatological records are breaking at a rapid rate, a trend likely to continue during the coming years as the world's oceans and atmosphere rebound sharply following a triple La Niña.

This year has already produced record-high global ocean temperatures and record-low Antarctic sea ice. And in recent weeks, a sudden surge of record-high air temperatures could propel 2023 to become the warmest year on record.