2022 has been a year of extremes. A high inflation rate, over 100 million refugees worldwide, insane temperatures and a Spotify crash – a look back at the records that have been broken over the past twelve months.
Energy and food prices: The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February led to a massive increase in energy and food costs. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) food price index hit an all-time high in March, and gas in Europe hit an all-time high. The annual inflation rate in the euro area rose to 10.6% in October, the sharpest price increase since the index was launched in 1997.
Refugees: The Russian attack is also responsible for the largest movement of refugees into Europe since the end of World War II. According to the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR, more than seven million Ukrainians have fled to other European countries, more than 5,000 of them to Luxembourg. Another 6.9 million Ukrainians are internally displaced. Globally, the number of displaced people has surpassed 100 million for the first time.
Heat: Europe experienced the hottest summer ever. Heat records have been broken in many countries, including England where the temperature topped 40 degrees for the first time. It was the hottest year in Luxembourg since records began. Forest fires caused by heat and drought have devastated Europe more than ever before: over 785,000 hectares.
World population: According to the United Nations, in November the number of people on Earth exceeded eight billion. In 1950, the number of people living on earth was still 2.5 billion.
Missiles: In response to large-scale joint South Korean-US military exercises, North Korea fired a record number of missiles into the Sea of Japan. On November 2 alone, there were 23 rockets in 24 hours.
Queen: In February, Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 70th jubilee, a record in Britain. At age 96, she was also the world’s oldest regent. After her death on Sept. 8, around a quarter of a million people lined up around the clock to bid farewell to the Queen at her coffin.
art market: Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s art collection, which includes works by Paul Cézanne, Gustav Klimt and Vincent van Gogh, sold at auction in November for $1.62 billion. Such a high price had never before been paid at an art auction. An Andy Warhol portrait of Marilyn Monroe changed hands in May for $195 million, making it the most expensive artwork of the 20th century.
Tennis: While Rafael Nadal won the French Open for the 14th time, the Spanish tennis star improved his record for Grand Slam titles to 22, ahead of Serbia’s Novak Djokovic (21) and Switzerland’s Roger Federer (20). The most successful tennis player with 23 Grand Slam titles, Serena Williams from the USA ended her career in 2022.
Pop: American megastar Taylor Swift’s tenth album, ‘Midnights’ caused such a stir that the streaming service Spotify collapsed. Never before have so many fans heard the same album in one day from the provider. Less glorious for Swift was the recognition of her as the greatest polluter among the stars. In August, when the ranking was released, she had flown 170 times on her private jet this year. (AFP)
