The past decade was the hottest on record as climate change ‘surged alarmingly,’ WMO reports

The past decade was the hottest on record as climate change ‘surged alarmingly,’ WMO reports

The past decade has been the hottest decade on record since global temperature records began in 1880, according to a report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The report, which was released on Tuesday, assesses the global temperature pattern from 2010 to 2019 and the impacts of ongoing climate change over the period.

The report found that 29 of the 30 hottest years on record have occurred since 1991, with the last five years being the warmest on record. It concluded that climate change is surging alarmingly, with many weather and climate extreme events—both heat waves and heavy rainfall—setting new records over the decade.

The report found that the average global temperatures in 2019 were 1.1ºC higher than the pre-industrial average, causing some areas to experience much more warming than other areas. The Arctic saw its temperatures increase by nearly 3ºC, while the Antarctic saw an increase of 1.02ºC.

The report also highlights the increased risk of flooding, drought, extreme weather, and sea-level rise due to climate change. It calls on countries to take decisive action to prevent further warming by increasing their ambitions in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.