The latest report from the World Meteorological Organization – published ahead of the COP27 summit – shows that global average temperatures this year were around 1.15C higher than pre-industrial levels.
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The past eight years are on track to be the hottest on record, the World Meteorological Organization warned in its latest report, published as world leaders gathered in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, for the COP27’s opening session.
The WMO’s State of the Global Climate annual report said that the global mean temperature in 2022 is currently estimated to be about 1.15C above pre-industrial levels. With the Paris Agreement, the world committed to limiting global warming to 1.5C, a goal that is increasingly out of reach.
Climate change is warming Northern regions nearly four times faster than the rest of the planet. The report suggests that this year’s unprecedented heatwaves have taken an “exceptionally heavy toll” on European glaciers, which experienced record-breaking melt. A recent analysis suggests that the Arctic experienced its largest melt event for September in nearly four decades.
The grim report set the tone for the most important climate conference of the year. World leaders and the scientific community gathered in Egypt on Sunday for the beginning of the two-week COP27 summit to discuss decarbonisation, climate change adaptation, food and water security, and, for the first time since the first conference nearly 20 years ago, loss and damage compensation.
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On Monday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres launched the ambitious Executive Action Plan, calling for initial investments of US$3.1 billion, equivalent to a cost of just 50 cents per person per year. The plan aims to reach everyone on Earth with early warnings. For comparison, governments in 51 countries spent a staggering $697 billion on fossil fuel support in 2021, according to a recent analysis.
The World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction are expected to co-lead an Advisory Board to ensure effective implementation of the plan.
“Half of humanity is in the danger zone,” declared Guterres. “I urge all governments, financial institutions and civil society to support this effort to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Agreement.”
Featured Image: Flickr
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