According to scientists from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), the world is likely to experience new record temperatures in the next five years, and these temperatures are expected to rise by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. While this breach of the crucial 1.5-degree threshold may be temporary, it signifies a significant acceleration of human impacts on the global climate system.
The 2015 Paris climate agreement aimed to keep global temperatures from exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, as exceeding this threshold could result in severe and potentially irreversible consequences. The UN agency warned that surpassing this limit would push the world into uncharted territory.
It is important to note that the report from the WMO does not suggest a permanent and sustained breach of the 1.5-degree target specified in the Paris agreement. However, it emphasizes that the temporary breach is expected to occur with increasing frequency.
Historically, global average surface temperatures have not surpassed the 1.5-degree threshold. The highest recorded average temperature in previous years was 1.28 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
These findings highlight the urgency for countries to take robust and immediate action to mitigate climate change and limit global warming. Efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, transition to renewable energy sources, and implement sustainable practices become even more crucial in light of these projections.
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