Heat waves and dire consequences to hit the world, – WMO forecast

Over the next five years, humanity will experience new temperature record highs. Average temperatures will increase by more than 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial levels, and the "dire consequences" of global warming may be only a matter of time.

This is what experts from the World Meteorological Organization warn of on their Twitter page.

"There is 66% chance that the annual average global temperature will be more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels in at least one of the next five years.

There is a 98% chance that at least one year between 2023 and 2027 will be the warmest on record."

Recently, the World Meteorological Organization published a report stating that new record temperatures were set in many places around the world last year and this may be just the beginning. Other climate changes also indicate the approach of "heat waves". Such as the end of La Niña (the process of cooling the earth's surface temperature) and the emergence of El Niño (the process of rising temperatures) - which are elements of the oscillating weather system that develops in the Pacific Ocean and affects the entire planet.

"The world should prepare for the development of El Niño, which is often associated with increased heat, drought or rainfall in different parts of the world. It might bring respite from the drought in the Horn of Africa and other La Niña- related impacts but could also trigger more extreme weather and climate events. This highlights the need for the UN Early Warnings for All initiative to keep people safe," said Prof. Taalas.

In 2015, scientists first warned of the catastrophic consequences of exceeding temperature limits. To avoid a number of dangerous and potentially irreversible changes, the Paris Climate Agreement was adopted. According to the document, 195 countries committed to keeping global temperatures below the average.

Climate change is consistently ranked at the top of the list of global threats by EU citizens. 93% of EU citizens see climate change as a serious problem and 78% see it as a very serious problem. 90% of respondents – and at least three quarters in each Member State – agree that greenhouse gas emissions should be reduced to a minimum while offsetting the remaining emissions, in order to make the EU economy climate-neutral by 2050.

At the same time, according to the European Investment Bank, most Europeans say the war in Ukraine provides an impetus to save energy and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, with 66% saying that the invasion’s consequences for oil and gas prices should spur moves to accelerate the green transition.