According to a preliminary report from the World Meteorological Organization, it is estimated that between 2015 and 2022, an average global temperature of 1.15 °C above preindustrial levels will accumulate.
Nov 6, 2022 12:36 p.m
(updated at 13:05)
Venice in northern Italy in summer
Photo: DW / Deutsche Welle
The last eight years (20152022) are well on the way there hotter included in history, according to an interim report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Panel of United Nations (U.N). The State of the Climate Bulletin estimates that the average global temperature in 2022 will be 1.15°C above preindustrial levels.
Extreme heat waves, droughts and devastating floods have affected millions and cost billions this year, the report said. “The greater the warming, the worse the impact,” warned WMO SecretaryGeneral Petteri Taalas in a statement. “Increasingly extreme weather makes it more important than ever to ensure everyone has access to lifesaving early warning.”
The report takes into account data recorded up to September this year by national meteorological and hydrological services and by UN partner institutions. The document was presented this Sunday the 6th at the opening ceremony of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27)in Egypt, in which the The climate emergency was the main theme of the speech.
The last 8 years are on track to become the 8 warmest. Extreme heat waves, drought and devastating floods have affected millions and cost billions this year, and 2022 has been catastrophic for glacier melt. The negotiations at #COP27 must take into account #climate condition https://t.co/fXI9ebrl01 pic.twitter.com/cO6e1nB4Bv
— World Meteorological Organization (@WMO) November 6, 2022
According to the WMO, a rare La Niña phenomenon will mean that 2022 will likely be “only” the fifth or sixth warmest year on record. However, this does not reverse the longterm trend: warming continues.
The report also points out that concentrations of the most important greenhouse gases carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide continue to rise. Last year they broke records again.
In 2022, even the melting records of the European Alps were broken. Average thickness losses of between three and more than four meters were measured, the international agency said.
“In Switzerland, according to initial measurements, 6% of the glacier ice volume was lost between 2021 and 2022. For the first time in history, no snow survived the summer season even at the highest measuring points and there was no accumulation of fresh ice,” the report says.
Between 2001 and 2022, the volume of Swiss glacial ice fell to 49 cubic kilometers a decrease of more than a third.
extreme weather
The report also cites extreme events that have recently been experienced. In East Africa, rainfall has been below average for four consecutive rainy seasons amid persistent drought. On the other hand, record rains in July and August led to massive flooding in Pakistan.
Large parts of Europe suffocated in repeated episodes of extreme heat. The UK, for example, set a new national record when the temperature surpassed 40°C for the first time.
*With international agencies
+Free the best content in your email. Choose your favorite Terra newsletter. Click here!