The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has stated that 2015-2019 is likely to be the hottest five years on record. The increasing concentration of greenhouse gases will trigger larger-scale global heat waves, glacial melting, sea-level rise, ocean temperatures, and extreme weather events in the future. The WMO said last Friday (28th) that in 2018, the global average temperature had already risen by nearly 1 degree Celsius compared to pre-industrial times. Time is running out to achieve the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius and striving towards 1.5 degrees Celsius. The WMO pointed out that the concentration of global greenhouse gases continues to increase, with carbon dioxide able to persist in the air and oceans for centuries, continuously contributing to rising temperatures and ocean acidification. The Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organization, Taalas, stated, "The last time Earth experienced such high concentrations of carbon dioxide was 3-5 million years ago, when temperatures were 2-3 degrees Celsius higher than now, and sea levels were 10-20 meters higher." The trend of global warming remains unchanged. According to the World Meteorological Organization, the past four years were the hottest four years on record, and with no signs of abating global warming, this year is likely to become the fifth hottest year on record. Temperatures from January to May this year have already reached the third highest on record for that period. According to the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center, Antarctic sea ice extent in May this year was the smallest on record, while Arctic sea ice extent was the second lowest on record. Beyond the North and South Poles, the heatwave has also affected other parts of the world. In the past few weeks, temperatures in France and Spain have exceeded 40 degrees Celsius, while temperatures in India, Pakistan, and parts of the Middle East have reached 50 degrees Celsius. Furthermore, the slow arrival of the monsoon has led to water shortages in many parts of India, including Chennai, the sixth largest city. In Africa, severe drought has triggered food insecurity, while southeastern Africa has yet to recover from a tropical cyclone that killed more than 1,000 people. Climate Summit Goal: Net Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2050. To address the climate emergency, UN Secretary-General António Guterres will convene a Climate Action Summit in New York from September 21-23 this year, urging countries to develop concrete and feasible plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45% over the next decade and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. To further motivate all parties, Secretary-General Guterres held a preparatory meeting for the summit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, from June 30 to July 1, inviting government ministers, business representatives, civil society, youth groups, meteorological experts, and representatives from multiple UN agencies, including the World Meteorological Organization, to discuss the urgency of climate action, energy transition, and climate and health, among other issues. Source: Central Broadcasting Corporation (July 2, 2019)
