The United Nations warned Thursday that global average temperatures are likely to remain at or near record levels for the 2026-2030 period. According to new projections, there is a 75 percent chance, or a three-out-of-four chance, that the average temperature for these five years will exceed pre-industrial levels by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Scientists report that the Earth is overwhelmingly likely to surge past the international climate threshold set as safe, shattering its hottest-year record along the way. The agency further indicated that one year in the next four will likely be the hottest ever recorded.
The warning comes as Western Europe experiences a heatwave with temperatures reaching highs not expected until the summer. Additionally, temperatures in the Arctic are expected to warm faster than other regions.