The latest scientific data compiled by the World Meteorological Organization indicates that the signs and impacts of global warming are speeding up. This news has arrived just as key UN talks are set to begin in New York.
The new data is a compilation of the latest science on the causes and impacts of global warming. It found that between 2011 and 2015, global temperatures have risen by 0.2C. Overall, since 1850, the global temperature rise has been 1.1C.
In addition, the average rise in sea levels since 1993 was 3.2mm per year. The new data has revealed that between May 2014 to 2019, that rise was 5mm per year.
The Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization, Petteri Taalas, said: "Sea-level rise has accelerated and we are concerned that an abrupt decline in the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets, which will exacerbate future rise." He added, "As we have seen this year with tragic effect in the Bahamas and Mozambique, sea-level rise and intense tropical storms led to humanitarian and economic catastrophes."
This report is designed to provide information to the UN summit on climate change taking place in New York, which is designed to be a meeting to agree on action rather than initiate a discussion.
It also comes at a time where an unprecedented amount of people across the globe have been striking in protest against climate change and the lack of action taken against it. Greta Thunberg, the Swedish teenager who has inspired the climate strikes, will be speaking at the opening of the UN meeting.
Regrettably, some of the biggest contributors to global climate change through carbon emissions will not be speaking at the meeting, including the US and Japan. The UK, China, India, France and Germany, all of which are large producers of carbon emissions, will all be speaking in a line-up that involves around 60 heads of state.
