Global temperatures are set to continue at or near unprecedented levels over the next five years, with scientists warning that the annual average could soar as high as 1.9C above pre-industrial benchmarks.
New climate predictions released on Thursday by the UN, a joint effort from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the UK’s Met Office, indicate that mean annual temperatures near the Earth’s surface between 2026 and 2030 are projected to range from 1.3C to 1.9C above the 1850-1900 average. The analysis also reveals an 86 per cent probability that one year within this period will surpass the current record for the warmest year globally.
