2017 ON TRACK TO BE SECOND HOTTEST YEAR ON RECORD: WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANISATION

Global warming causes more frequent extreme weather events and exacerbates their intensity. It puts lives in the Pacific and all around the world at risk

Every region of the world has suffered extreme weather events this year with the alarming news 2017 is on track to be the second hottest year ever recorded demonstrating the need for global leaders at COP23 to take urgent action to contain global warming.

The average global temperature from January to September 2017 was approximately 1.1°C above the preindustrial era, according to the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) provisional Statement on the State of the Climate published yesterday. “The WMO report provides yet another impetus for world leaders to live up to their commitments under the Paris climate agreement and phase out fossil fuels to prevent catastrophic climate change,” Pacific Island Representative activist Alisi Nacewa said. “Global warming causes more frequent extreme weather events and exacerbates their intensity.

“It puts lives in the Pacific and all around the world at risk, but there is still a chance to prevent once in a lifetime disasters becoming the new norm if world leaders gathered at Bonn commit to ending the era of fossil fuels.” The report was published on the opening day of the UN climate change conference in Bonn, Germany, where leaders from across the world will aim to set the rules for the implementation of the Paris agreement, which aims to contain global warming to 1.5°C.

2016 is likely to remain the hottest year on record, due to a powerful El Niño with 2017 and 2015 to take second and/or third places respectively. 20132017 is set to be the hottest five-year period on record.

WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said the results were part of a “long term warming trend”.

“We have witnessed extraordinary weather, including temperatures topping 50 degrees Celsius in Asia, record-breaking hurricanes in rapid succession in the Caribbean and Atlantic reaching as far as Ireland, devastating monsoon flooding affecting many millions of people and a relentless drought in East Africa,” Mr Taalas said

“Many of these events – and detailed scientific studies will determine exactly how many – bear the tell-tale sign of climate change caused by increased greenhouse gas concentrations from human activities.”

Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of UN Framework Convention on Climate Change which is hosting the Bonn conference, said the findings highlight the growing risks to life on Earth if leaders fail to get on track with the aims and ambitions of the Paris Agreement.

“There is unprecedented and very welcome momentum among governments, but also cities, states, territories, regions, business and civil society,” Ms Espinosa said.

“Bonn 2017 needs to be the launch pad towards the next, higher level of ambition by all nations and all sectors of society as we look to de-risk the future and maximize the opportunities from a fresh, forward-looking and sustainable development path.”