2015 likely to be hottest year on record

ACCORDING to The World Meteorological Organisation’s (WMO) state of the global climate report, climate change made 2011-2015 the warmest period on record, with 2015 set to be the hottest ever chronicled.

Secretary-General Michel Jarraud told a press conference that: “Ocean surface temperatures are at the highest level since measurements began.”

 “This is bad news for the planet,” he continued.

Human induced climate change was found by a majority of scientific studies included in the report to substantially increase the probability of extreme weather events.

Thousands died in the Indian sub-continent last summer in record heatwaves approached 50C. China is currently experiencing its warmest ever year, while Africa undergoes its second hottest.

The effects of this year’s El Niño have been accounted for in the studies but it is the WMO’s emphasis on man made contributions that contribute to the urgency of the report.

Next week over 130 world leaders are expected to meet in Paris for a heavily anticipated summit on climate change due to focus on emissions cuts.

Southern Europe, especially Spain, is set to be the biggest loser in Europe if current trends continue. Droughts, desertification and forest fires have been estimated by the European Commission to negatively affect agriculture and tourism revenue in the coming decades.