Residents gaze at a smoky lake in British Columbia, Canada, in August. Canada has battled several wildfires this summer due to drought and high temperatures. The world has experienced many extreme weather conditions over the past year, including droughts, floods, extreme heatwaves and wildfires, according to the WMO. Photo: Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press/AP/NTB
Last year broke a number of climate records and is on track to become the hottest year on record, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
Based on figures from January to the end of October, 2023 is highly likely to break world heat records, says UN agency, which says extreme weather has brought destruction and despair across the globe throughout the year.
– It’s a deafening cacophony of broken records, says WMO chief Petteri Taalas.
– Greenhouse gases reach a record level. Global temperatures are reaching record highs. Sea levels have reached a record high. Sea ice in Antarctica is at a record high.
The WMO released its preliminary climate report for this year as the United Nations climate summit opened in Dubai on Thursday.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres says the findings should send shivers down the spines of world leaders.
Boats sit along a dry canal in Puno, Peru. The photo was taken on November 28. Photo: Martin Mejía/AP/NTB
“Passionate pop cultureaholic. Proud bacon trailblazer. Avid analyst. Certified reader.”
