The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said this Wednesday that global temperatures are expected to hit record rates in the next five years because of greenhouse gases and the El Niño phenomenon. According to a new report released by the UN agency, there is a 66% probability that average annual warming will exceed 1.5°C between 2023 and 2027.

In addition, at least one of the next five years will be the warmest since records began. The WMO report is based on calculations from 11 different climate science centers around the world.

Warmest year ever

The report reveals that there is a 98 percent likelihood that at least one of the next five years, and the five-year period, will be the warmest on record. According to WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas, the report does not mean that humanity will permanently exceed the 1.5°C mark, but serves as a warning that this limit will be broken more frequently in the future. 

“This will have far-reaching repercussions for health, food security, water management and the environment. We need to be prepared,” he said.

Action now

From 22 May to 2 June, the World Meteorological Congress will discuss how to strengthen weather and climate services to support climate change adaptation. Priorities for discussion at Congress include the UN’s Early Warnings for All initiative to protect people from increasingly extreme weather and a new Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Infrastructure to inform climate mitigation.

—

Source: UN News