The World Meteorological Organisation in its ‘The State of the Climate report for 2021′ highlights a world that is “changing before our eyes” where extreme weather events – including powerful heat waves and devastating floods – are now the new normal.
The study finds that the past seven years including this one are likely to be the warmest on record as greenhouse gases reached record concentrations in the atmosphere. The accompanying rise in temperatures is propelling the planet into “uncharted territory” says the report, with increasing impacts across the planet.
WMO’s Prof Taalas detailed some of the extreme events that have been experienced around the world this year.
Another worrying development, according to the WMO study, has been the rise in global sea levels.
“Sea levels are rising faster now than at any other time in the last two millennia,” said Prof Jonathan Bomber, Director of the Bristol Glaciology Centre. “If we continue on our current trajectory, that rise could exceed 2 metres by 2100 displacing some 630 million people worldwide. The consequences of that are unimaginable.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, said, “From the ocean depths to mountain tops, from melting glaciers to relentless extreme weather events, ecosystems and communities around the globe are being devastated. COP26 must be a turning point for people and planet.”
Climate change: Extreme weather events are ‘the new norm’ – BBC News
If the world’s people are at a crossroads, which route will they take? The World Socialist Movement suggests there is only one wise choice to make – to build a world cooperative commonwealth of common ownership.