Last year was the fourth warmest on record and the outlook is for more heat extremes approaching levels that would be dangerous for the Earth, according to the latest World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) report. Weather extremes in 2018 included wildfires in California and Greece, drought in South Africa and floods in Kerala, India. “The long-term temperature trend is far more important than the ranking of individual years, and that trend is an upward one,” WMO secretary general Petteri Taalas added. “That is not saying the Paris Agreement [which seeks to keep temperature rise well below 2 degrees] is done for . but it’s a worrying sign.”The WMO confirmed the world is now on track for a temperature rise of 3 degrees or more by 2100.

Source: The Irish Times February 07, 2019 00:11 UTC