Although global average temperatures have temporarily cooled down due to the 2020-2022 La Niña events, 2021 remains one of the seven warmest years on record, according to the top six international data sets compiled by the Gas Organization. Unified World statue (WMO).
Global warming and other long-term climate change trends are expected to continue as record levels of greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, the agency said.
The average global temperature in 2021 is about 1.11 (± 0.13) °C higher than pre-industrial levels. The Paris Agreement calls on all countries to work towards the 1.5°C limit of global warming through coordinated climate action and Country-determined Actual Contributions – the plans of each country needs to become a reality to slow down the rate of warming.
The WMO says it uses six international data sets “to ensure the most comprehensive, authoritative temperature assessment” and that the same data is also used in the state’s authoritative annual State of Climate report. it.
Since the 1980s, each decade is warmer than the previous one, WMO said and “this is expected to continue.”
The seven warmest years have all been since 2015; The top three countries are 2016, 2019 and 2020. A particularly strong El Niño event occurred in 2016, which contributed to record-breaking global warming.
“Consecutive La Niña events mean that warming in 2021 is relatively less pronounced than in recent years. Even so, 2021 is still warmer than previous years due to the influence of La Niña”, said WMO Secretary General, GS Petteri Taalas.
Undeniable trend
“Long-term warming is generally due to increases in greenhouse gases, which are now much larger than annual variations in average global temperatures caused by natural climate agents.”
“The year 2021 will be remembered for record temperatures near 50 °C in Canada, comparable to values reported in the hot Sahara desert of Algeria, exceptional rainfall, and deadly flooding in Asia and Europe as well. such as drought in areas of Africa and South America”, added the head of WMO.
“The impacts of climate change and weather-related hazards have had devastating and life-changing effects. on communities on every continent,” emphasized Mr. Taalas.
Other important indicators of global warming include greenhouse gas concentrations, ocean heat content, ocean pH level (acidity level), global mean sea level, ice mass and sea ice levels.
WMO uses a dataset – based on monthly climate data from observation sites, ships and buoys in a global ocean network – developed and maintained by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. United States (NOAA), NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (NASA GISS), the United Kingdom’s Hadley Met Office Center, and the University of East Anglia’s Climate Research Unit (HadCRUT); and the Berkeley Earth team.
WMO also uses a reanalysis dataset from the European Center for Mean Range Weather Forecasts and Copernicus climate change service, and the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).
The WMO said the temperature figures will be included in the final State of Climate report for 2021, to be released in April this year.
This will refer to all key climate indicators and selected climate impacts, and up-to-date information. an interim report to be released in October 2021 ahead Climate Conference COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland.
.
