May 17, 2023
Global temperatures are likely to surge to record levels in the next five years, making 2023-27 the warmest five-year period ever recorded, and there is a 98% chance of at least one in the next five years beating the temperature record set in 2016.
Image Source: Reuters
It noted that the temperature surge will be fuelled by heat-trapping greenhouse gases (GHG) and a naturally occurring El Niño (unusual warming of surface waters in eastern Pacific Ocean) weather pattern.
Image Source: Reuters
The WMO in its new state of climate update, released in Geneva, also said there is a 66% chance that the annual average near-surface global temperature between 2023 and 2027, will “temporarily” be more than 1.5 degree Celsius.
Image Source: Reuters
The annual mean global near-surface temperature for each year between 2023 and 2027 is predicted to be between 1.1 degree C and 1.8 degree C higher than the 1850-1900 average.
Image Source: Reuters
WMO is sounding the alarm that we will breach the 1.5 degree C level on a temporary basis with increasing frequency, said Petteri Taalas, secretary-general, WMO.
Image Source: AP
A warming El Niño is expected to develop in the coming months and this will combine with human-induced climate change to push global temperatures into uncharted territory.
Image Source: AP
The Paris Agreement sets long-term goals to guide all nations to substantially reduce global GHG gas emissions to limit the global temperature increase in this century to 2 degree C.
Image Source: AP
The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) also warned that the climate-related risks for natural and human systems would be higher for global warming of 1.5 degree C than at present, but lower than at 2 degree C.
Image Source: AP
Besides increasing global temperatures, human-induced GHG also leads to more ocean heating and acidification, sea ice and glacier melt, sea level rise and more extreme weather.
Image Source: Reuters
The new report was released ahead of the World Meteorological Congress (22 May to 2 June) which will discuss how to strengthen weather and climate services to support climate change adaptation.
Image Source: BCCL
Priorities for discussion at Congress include the ongoing early warnings for all initiatives to protect people from increasingly extreme weather and a new GHG Monitoring Infrastructure to inform climate mitigation.
Image Source: AP
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