An official from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said on September 23, that the global average temperature is set to rise at least 1.2 to 1.3 degrees Celcius above pre-industrial levels over the next five years. The predictions were made as world leaders are scheduled to meet in New York for the UN Climate Action Summit to work on their promises from the 2015 Paris Agreement which focuses to limit the rise of global temperature to well below 1.5 degrees Celcius. The contract was signed by almost 200 nations to set a goal of limiting global warming well below a rise of 2-degree Celcius above pre-industrial times. But on the other hand, the rise of 2-degree Celcius is expected to wipe out more than 99 per cent of the coral reefs and will melt most of the sea glaciers present in the Arctic.

Omar Baddour: 'We are monitoring and keeping track'

A senior WMO officer, Omar Baddour, speaking to a global media said the organization was monitoring and keeping a track to reach at least 1.2-1.3 degrees Celcius which is above pre-industrial levels, over the next five years. He added that warming needs drastic actions as global average temperature set to rise again.WMO commented after a UN agency released a report on Sunday, September 22, revealing that the period from 2015-2019 was recorded to be the warmest five periods, where the temperatures rose by 0.2-degrees Celcius over 2011-2015. He also added that the current policies should have an accurate level of ambition and the matter should be given utmost importance.

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Record levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere 

The report also disclosed record levels of carbon dioxide and other harmful greenhouse gases in the atmosphere was recorded over the same period. It also showed that carbon dioxide was up by 20 per cent as compared to the last five-year assessment. The Director of the Climate Prediction and Adaptation Division of the WMO, Maxx Dilley, said it is high time that the world's climate responds to carbon dioxide and other gases which means that the emissions produced today can raise temperatures even 20 years later.

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