“Earth’s Record-Hot Streak: More Scorching Years Ahead, UN Scientists Warn”

With the planet experiencing its highest temperatures in over 100,000 years, the United Nations weather agency has released a report predicting that more record-hot years are on the horizon. According to the World Meteorological Organization, there is a nearly 90 percent chance that Earth will set a new record for its warmest year in the next five years, surpassing the scorching highs seen in 2023.

The report also highlights the likelihood that, within the next five years, the average global temperature will be 1.5 degrees Celsius higher than it was at the beginning of the industrial age, a target set by the 2015 Paris Agreement. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the urgent need for action to combat climate change, including reducing carbon dioxide emissions, transitioning to renewable energy sources, and supporting climate plans in developing countries.

Guterres called for an end to taxpayer subsidies for oil and gas companies and urged governments to ban advertising by fossil fuel companies, likening them to the tobacco industry. He also called on the news media and tech companies to stop displaying ads from fossil fuel companies. Several publications, including the Guardian, have already stopped accepting fossil fuel advertising.

The effects of the planet’s abnormal warmth are being felt worldwide, with record temperatures in India and other parts of South Asia, intense heat waves in the United States, and devastating flooding in Brazil. Coral reefs are experiencing widespread bleaching, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts an exceptionally stormy Atlantic hurricane season due to record ocean temperatures.

Despite the current record-breaking temperatures, there is hope for temporary relief as the El Niño climate phenomenon fades. However, other factors, such as reduced air pollution from ships, may contribute to additional warming. The primary driver of global warming remains the steady increase in atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, the three most significant human-caused heat-trapping gases.

Scientists warn that without significant reductions in emissions, it may only be a matter of years before the planet surpasses the 1.5-degree Celsius warming threshold set by the Paris Agreement. Urgent action is needed to address climate change and prevent further catastrophic warming of the planet.