Scientists have revealed that for the first time in history, the average global temperatures have already reached one degree Celsius higher than pre-industrial temperature levels.
Scientists have cautioned that one more degree and climate change might get incredibly dangerous.
According to data from the U.K. Met Office and the Climate Research Unit at the University of East Anglia, covering the months of January to September 2015, the global average temperatures are 1.02 degrees Celsius above preindustrial temperatures (or the period from 1850 to 1900).
Stephen Belcher, director of the Met Office Hadley Centre, pointed out that the state of the modern climate is clearly influenced by human actions. The Met Office's report was corroborated by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Following @metoffice, GISTEMP 2015 anomaly is predicted to also be above 1ºC wrt pre-industrial for 1st time: pic.twitter.com/tyf5ug5kFB
— Gavin Schmidt (@ClimateOfGavin) November 9, 2015
In addition, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) disclosed on Monday, Nov. 9, that the quantity of carbon dioxide in the air matches or surpasses 400 parts per million for the entire year — the first year in the entire history to arrive at this number, according to WMO.
Michel Jarraud, WMO's secretary general, discussed that this will signify warmer global temperatures, more severe weather events (such as floods and heat waves), rising sea levels, melting ice and elevated level of acidity of oceans.
"This is happening now and we are moving into unchartered territory at a frightening speed,” said Jarraud.
On Nov. 30, global climate talks will start in Paris in hopes of deciding on a binding international agreement on carbon emissions which is geared towards limiting global warming to no more than two degrees Celcius above pre-industrial temperature levels.
It wasn't too long ago when President Barack Obama rejected the proposed construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline which would have carried crude oil from Alberta and North Dakota to Illinois, and to the Gulf of Mexico. This move by the United States is seen as part of the nation's effort in leading the global climate talks in Paris later this month.
