UNITED NATIONS: The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned that global average temperatures are likely to remain at record-high levels or increase further between 2026 and 2030, with the possibility of a new hottest year on record in the coming years, according to an AFP report.
In its latest outlook, the UN weather agency said 11 of the hottest years on record have occurred since 2015, and the trend is expected to continue in the years ahead.
The report said there is a 75% chance that the global average temperature between 2026 and 2030 will exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels at least temporarily. Scientists say this threshold, set under the Paris Agreement, is critical to limiting dangerous climate change.
The WMO also said there is an 86% probability that at least one year during the 2026–2030 period will surpass 2024 and become the hottest year on record.
The agency noted that an El Niño weather pattern is likely to re-emerge by the end of 2026, potentially pushing global temperatures higher in 2027. El Niño is known to intensify heatwaves, droughts, storms and disrupt global weather systems.
Meanwhile, several European countries are already experiencing extreme heat, with the United Kingdom and France recording multiple temperature highs for May.
The report further warned that the Arctic region could warm at a rate three times faster than the global average over the next five years, accelerating ice melt and raising sea levels.
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Experts said that without significant cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, the world could face more severe climate crises, including food shortages, water scarcity and natural disasters.
