Global temperature rises a warning

Global temperatures for 2015 are expected to have risen by 1C for the first time since the industrial revolution started.

Temperatures around the world averaged 1.02C above the 1850-1900 period from January to September this year, the Meteorological Office said.

If the trend continues, it would make this year the first to pass the alarming threshold.

Forecasters said the rising temperatures were caused by an El Nino event, when Pacific waters become so warm they affect the world’s weather, as well as man-made warming.

The figures, from the Met Office and the Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia, were released ahead of key United Nations talks in Paris organised to tackle climate change.

The talks could lead to a deal to limit global temperature rises to no more than 2C above pre-industrial levels – a threshold beyond which the worst impacts of climate change are expected to be felt.

Dr Peter Stott, head of climate monitoring at the Met Office, said the figures provided more evidence of the ‘unequivocal warming’ of the Earth, adding: ‘There’s been an extra push from El Nino, nevertheless the fact is we have human influence driving our climate into uncharted territory, because we are now above 1C.’

While future years will not all be 1C above pre-industrial levels, because of natural climate variability, it will eventually become the norm, he said.

Meanwhile, the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere hit record highs last year, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said.

Levels of carbon dioxide averaged 397.7 parts per million (ppm) in 2014, a 43 per cent increase on pre-industrial levels of around 278 ppm.

Secretary-general Michel Jarraud said: ‘Every year we report a new record in greenhouse gas concentrations. Every year we say time is running out. We have to act now to slash greenhouse gas emissions to keep temperatures to manageable levels.’

Scientists say that if global warming continues unabated, its effects could include the flooding of coastal cities and island nations, disruption to agriculture and drinking water, the spread of diseases and the extinction of species.

Bill Hare, head of Climate Analytics – a research group in Berlin, said: ‘World leaders need to see this as a massive wake-up call.’ – Daily Mail

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