According to the agency, 2016 is the hottest year on record in the world so far. And there is a 98 percent chance that the temperature will exceed this record within the next 5 years. As a result, people are going to enjoy its far-reaching consequences. There will be impacts on health, food security, water management and the environment. Everyone should be prepared for this.
Why is it important?
Scientists say a small increase in warming could increase the risk of heat waves, wildfires, droughts and other natural disasters. For example, in 2021, global warming increased the magnitude of heat waves in the Northwest Pacific. Due to which all local records were also broken. And hundreds of people were killed.
El Nino can also cause major changes in rainfall patterns globally. The Met Office reported that summer rainfall was expected to increase over the next 5 years in areas such as the Sahel in northern Europe and sub-Saharan Africa. Rainfall was even expected to decrease in the Amazon and parts of Australia.
The institute's report also indicated that there is a two-thirds chance of 1.5 degrees Celsius or 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit in any one year over the next five years. That's warmer than the 19th century average. But that doesn't mean it will violate the Paris Climate Agreement's goal of keeping global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
In fact, many world leaders have insisted on 1.5 degrees to keep the risk of climate change at a tolerable level. But states have been slow to make the necessary changes to meet this goal. As a result, scientists now fear that the whole world will cross this limit in early 2030.
La Niña alone can save?
Since the 19th century, average global warming has increased by about 1.1 degrees Celsius. In fact, humans continue to use fossil fuels. Due to which harmful gases like carbon-dioxide are mixed in the environment. Meanwhile, during La Nina years the surface temperature is lower, while during El Niño years the surface temperature increases. Accordingly, the warmest year on record i.e. 2016 was an El Nino year. Instead, La Niña conditions have prevailed for the past three years.It was less than the level of 2016. Now scientists fear that El Nino conditions are going to return in the summer of this year. And as this is compounded by rising levels of greenhouse gases in the environment, temperatures will rise and set new records.
