Latest news with #KoBarrett
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- Climate
- The Herald Scotland
Brace for years of extreme heat, UN climate report warns
"We have just experienced the ten warmest years on record," said WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett, in a statement. "Unfortunately, this WMO report provides no sign of respite over the coming years, and this means that there will be a growing negative impact on our economies, our daily lives, our ecosystems and our planet." Arctic warming is also predicted to rise at more than three times the global average. "Every additional fraction of a degree of warming drives more harmful heatwaves, extreme rainfall events, intense droughts, melting of ice sheets, sea ice, and glaciers, heating of the ocean, and rising sea levels," the WMO said in a statement. Climate report by the numbers 80% chance that at least one of the next five years will exceed 2024 as the warmest on record 86% chance that at least one of next five years will be more than 1.5 degrees C (2.7 degrees F) above the 1850-1900 average 70% chance that 5-year average warming for 2025-2029 will be more than 1.5 degrees C (2.7 degrees F). Arctic warming predicted to continue to outstrip global average More people at risk Last year, the hottest year on record, saw the first breach of the 2015 Paris climate agreement, which committed countries to avoid global warming of more than 1.5 degrees C. From this year until the end of 2029, the mean near-surface temperature globally is forecast to be between 1.2 degrees C and 1.9 degrees C (2.2 degrees F and 3.4 degrees F) higher than pre-industrial levels of the years 1850-1900, the WMO said, adding that this would fuel more extreme weather. "With the next five years forecast to be more than 1.5 degrees C warmer than preindustrial levels on average, this will put more people than ever at risk of severe heat waves, bringing more deaths and severe health impacts unless people can be better protected from the effects of heat," Richard Betts, head of climate impacts research at the UK Met Office and a professor at the University of Exeter, told the Associated Press. "Also we can expect more severe wildfires as the hotter atmosphere dries out the landscape." Arctic warmth is soaring In the Arctic, the above-average projected warming will accelerate ice melt in the Arctic and northwest Pacific Ocean. The report said Arctic warming was predicted to be more than three-and-a-half times the global average, at 2.4 degrees C (4.3 degrees F) above the recent average temperature over the next five winters. Contributing: Reuters
Yahoo
a day ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Earth's 5-year forecast is in: Brace for extreme heat
Human-caused global warming will continue to bake the Earth over the next several years, experts from the United Nations and the United Kingdom said in a May 28 report, noting that "global climate predictions show temperatures are expected to continue at or near record levels in the next five years." Specifically, there is an 80% chance that at least one of the next five years will see record heat, with a high likelihood that average warming will exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels, according to the report by the World Meteorological Organization, which is the U.N. weather agency, and the U.K. Met Office. 'We have just experienced the ten warmest years on record," said WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett, in a statement. "Unfortunately, this WMO report provides no sign of respite over the coming years, and this means that there will be a growing negative impact on our economies, our daily lives, our ecosystems and our planet.' Arctic warming is also predicted to rise at more than three times the global average. "Every additional fraction of a degree of warming drives more harmful heatwaves, extreme rainfall events, intense droughts, melting of ice sheets, sea ice, and glaciers, heating of the ocean, and rising sea levels," the WMO said in a statement. 80% chance that at least one of the next five years will exceed 2024 as the warmest on record. 86% chance that at least one of next five years will be more than 1.5 C (2.7 F) above the 1850-1900 average. 70% chance that five-year average warming for 2025-2029 will be more than 1.5 C (2.7 F). Arctic warming predicted to continue to outstrip global average. Last year, the hottest year on record, saw the first breach of the 2015 Paris climate agreement, which committed countries to avoid global warming of more than 1.5 C. From this year until the end of 2029, the mean near-surface temperature globally is forecast to be between 1.2 C and 1.9 C (2.2 F and 3.4 F) higher than preindustrial levels of the years 1850-1900, the WMO said, adding that this would fuel more extreme weather. 'With the next five years forecast to be more than 1.5 degrees C warmer than preindustrial levels on average, this will put more people than ever at risk of severe heat waves, bringing more deaths and severe health impacts unless people can be better protected from the effects of heat," Richard Betts, head of climate impacts research at the UK Met Office and a professor at the University of Exeter, told The Associated Press. "Also we can expect more severe wildfires as the hotter atmosphere dries out the landscape." In the Arctic, the above-average projected warming will accelerate ice melt in the Arctic and northwest Pacific Ocean. The report said Arctic warming was predicted to be more than 3½ times the global average, at 2.4 C (4.3 F) above the recent average temperature over the next five winters. Contributing: Reuters This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brace for years of extreme heat, UN climate report warns
CNET
a day ago
- Business
- CNET
Expect Record-Breaking Global Heat in Next Five Years, Study Says
It's no secret that 2024 was hot. In fact, it was the hottest year ever recorded, with massive heat waves plowing through the US on multiple occasions. It followed up on 2023, which was also the hottest year at the time. Based on predictions, the heat is likely to get even worse over the next five years. The World Meteorological Organization published its predictions for the next five years, and report there is a roughly 80% chance that at least one of the next five years will exceed 2024 as the warmest humans have seen since recordkeeping began in 1850. "We have just experienced the 10 warmest years on record. Unfortunately, this WMO report provides no sign of respite over the coming years, and this means that there will be a growing negative impact on our economies, our daily lives, our ecosystems, and our planet," said WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett. In addition, the WMO predicts a 70% chance that the average warming will be higher than 1.5°C over the next five years. This is significant because it's the long-term limit set by the Paris Agreement, indicating that climate change is getting dangerously close to exceeding the Agreement's goals. However, the UN notes that individual months or years can fluctuate due to things like El Niño/La Niña and other weather adjustments. The first calendar year period with temps exceeding the 1.5°C threshold was 2024. Arctic warming is also predicted to continue Despite the surprising growth of ice in the Arctic due to uncharacteristic snowfall in early 2025, that famously frigid part of the planet is also expected to warm even more than the rest of the globe due to a phenomenon called Arctic amplification. This is caused by bright, reflective sea ice melting, allowing the sun to better warm the darker water underneath. This has a snowball effect where the Arctic gets warmer faster as it loses more and more ice. While the global temperatures exceeded 1.5°C in 2024 and will likely do so again over the next five years, the temperatures in the Arctic are even warmer in comparison. WMO predicts that the Arctic will warm up by "three and a half times the global average" for the next five winters. The prediction continues by saying that further reduction of sea ice is probable, while weather conditions in northern regions like Alaska, northern Europe, and northern Siberia will likely be wetter than average due to warming.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Climate
- USA Today
Earth's 5-year forecast is in: Brace for extreme heat
Earth's 5-year forecast is in: Brace for extreme heat The warning comes from top weather experts at the United Nations and the United Kingdom in a May 28 report. Show Caption Hide Caption How President Trump impacted climate change policy so far Since taking office, President Trump has abandoned efforts to reduce global warming. It could 'take a generation or more to repair the damage." Human-caused global warming will continue to bake the Earth over the next several years, experts from the United Nations and the United Kingdom said in a May 28 report, noting that "global climate predictions show temperatures are expected to continue at or near record levels in the next five years." Specifically, there is an 80% chance that at least one of the next five years will see record heat, with a high likelihood that average warming will exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, according to the report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which is the UN's weather agency, and the U.K. Met Office. 'We have just experienced the ten warmest years on record," said WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett, in a statement. "Unfortunately, this WMO report provides no sign of respite over the coming years, and this means that there will be a growing negative impact on our economies, our daily lives, our ecosystems and our planet.' Arctic warming is also predicted to rise at more than three times the global average. "Every additional fraction of a degree of warming drives more harmful heatwaves, extreme rainfall events, intense droughts, melting of ice sheets, sea ice, and glaciers, heating of the ocean, and rising sea levels," the WMO said in a statement. Climate report by the numbers 80% chance that at least one of the next five years will exceed 2024 as the warmest on record 86% chance that at least one of next five years will be more than 1.5 degrees C (2.7 degrees F) above the 1850-1900 average 70% chance that 5-year average warming for 2025-2029 will be more than 1.5 degrees C (2.7 degrees F). Arctic warming predicted to continue to outstrip global average More people at risk Last year, the hottest year on record, saw the first breach of the 2015 Paris climate agreement, which committed countries to avoid global warming of more than 1.5 degrees C. From this year until the end of 2029, the mean near-surface temperature globally is forecast to be between 1.2 degrees C and 1.9 degrees C (2.2 degrees F and 3.4 degrees F) higher than pre-industrial levels of the years 1850-1900, the WMO said, adding that this would fuel more extreme weather. 'With the next five years forecast to be more than 1.5 degrees C warmer than preindustrial levels on average, this will put more people than ever at risk of severe heat waves, bringing more deaths and severe health impacts unless people can be better protected from the effects of heat," Richard Betts, head of climate impacts research at the UK Met Office and a professor at the University of Exeter, told the Associated Press. "Also we can expect more severe wildfires as the hotter atmosphere dries out the landscape." Arctic warmth is soaring In the Arctic, the above-average projected warming will accelerate ice melt in the Arctic and northwest Pacific Ocean. The report said Arctic warming was predicted to be more than three-and-a-half times the global average, at 2.4 degrees C (4.3 degrees F) above the recent average temperature over the next five winters. Contributing: Reuters
Daily Tribune
2 days ago
- Science
- Daily Tribune
UN says strong chance average warming will top 1.5C in 4 years
TDT | Geneva The United Nations warned on Wednesday that there is a 70% chance that average warming from 2025 to 2029 would exceed the 1.5 degrees Celsius international benchmark. The planet is therefore expected to remain at historic levels of warming after the two hottest years ever recorded in 2023 and 2024, according to an annual climate report published by the World Meteorological Organization, the UN's weather and climate agency. 'We have just experienced the 10 warmest years on record,' said the WMO's deputy secretary-general Ko Barrett. 'Unfortunately, this WMO report provides no sign of respite over the coming years, and this means that there will be a growing negative impact on our economies, our daily lives, our ecosystems and our planet.' The 2015 Paris climate accords aimed to limit global warming to well below 2C above pre-industrial levels -- and to pursue efforts to peg it at 1.5C. The targets are calculated relative to the 1850-1900 average, before humanity began industrially burning coal, oil and gas, which emit carbon dioxide (CO2) -- the greenhouse gas largely responsible for climate change. The more optimistic 1.5C target is one that growing numbers of climate scientists now consider impossible to achieve, as CO2 emissions are still increasing. Longer-term outlook To smooth out natural climate variations, several methods assess long-term warming, the WMO's climate services director Christopher Hewitt told a press conference. One approach combines observations from the past 10 years with projections for the next decade (2015-2034). With this method, the estimated current warming is 1.44C. There is no consensus yet on how best to assess long-term warming. The EU's climate monitor Copernicus believes that warming currently stands at 1.39C, and projects 1.5C could be reached in mid-2029 or sooner.
