Scientists with the United Nations weather agency have issued a stark warning: more record-hot years are all but inevitable as the planet experiences its highest temperatures in over 100,000 years. According to a report released by the World Meteorological Organization, there is nearly a 90 percent chance that Earth will set a new record for its warmest year in the next five years, surpassing the scorching highs of 2023.
The report also highlights the alarming possibility that the average global temperature could be 1.5 degrees Celsius higher than preindustrial levels in at least one of these five years. This level of warming was the target set by countries under the 2015 Paris Agreement to avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change.
United Nations secretary general, António Guterres, emphasized the urgent need for action to combat climate change, including slashing carbon dioxide emissions, adopting renewable energy, and ending taxpayer subsidies for the fossil fuel industry. Guterres also called for a ban on advertising by fossil fuel companies, comparing them to the tobacco industry and urging the news media and tech companies to stop displaying their ads.
The effects of the planet’s abnormal warmth are already being felt around the world, with extreme heatwaves in South Asia and the Western United States, devastating flooding in Brazil, and widespread coral reef bleaching in the oceans. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts an exceptionally stormy Atlantic hurricane season due to record ocean temperatures.
Despite the grim outlook, there is some hope on the horizon as the natural climate phenomenon El Niño is fading, which could bring temporary relief from the record temperatures. However, the primary driver of global warming remains the steady increase in atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide.
As the planet continues to warm, urgent action is needed to prevent further catastrophic climate change. By cutting emissions and transitioning to renewable energy sources, there is still a chance to limit global warming and protect the planet for future generations.
