The years 2015, 2016 and 2017 reveal a disturbing trend regarding the world’s climate. As announced by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the last three years have been the hottest ever on record. This rise in temperature is accompanied by climate disruptions and extreme weather conditions worldwide and has been attributed to the increasing concentration of greenhouse gases in the ozone.

Heatwave…

The WMO cites that “17 of the 18 hottest years in world history have occurred in the 21st century, and the rate of (global) warming over the past three years is exceptional.”

2017 broke the record for the hottest year in history. Such extreme temperatures are abnormal for a year that did not experience El Nino, an oceanic phenomenon which occurs every three to seven years known to increase global temperatures and impact precipitation rates.

2016 averaged an increase of 1.2°C compared to temperatures during the same period during 1880-1900.

Disturbing weather conditions

Bruno, Carmen, Eleanor, Fionn; All these storms swept through France at the beginning of 2018 and caused incomprehensible amounts of damage. On a global scale, the whole world is being affected by abnormally strong weather conditions.

Highly unusual temperature peaks exceeding 50°C were registered in Asia. Recurring hurricanes devastated the Caribbean and the Atlantic. Extreme flooding and immense snowfall have bombarded the United States.

Even more recently, storm Friederick wrecked the Netherlands causing nine fatalities and multiple injuries. Cyclone Berguitta hit Réunion creating severe flooding in the area, and the rising water level of the Seine threatens the entire Ile-de-France.

These recent radical weather patterns and conditions are evidence that the global climate is changing, and the sad reality is that our own human activities play a significant role in creating these volatile environments.

Climate change at issue

It’s difficult to deny the correlation between rising temperatures, recurring bad weather and global warming. Although not being the solely responsible, global warming causes significant changes in the intensity or frequency of extreme weather conditions.

In particular, the increase of the greenhouse effect caused by human activities is directly involved with climate change. It causes the warming of the oceans and atmosphere which disrupts hot and cold air currents which increase the risk of extreme weather conditions.

To date, the measures taken by countries to reduce greenhouse gases have put the planet on a warming trajectory of more than 3°C. However recent measures in Paris (Paris Agreement) have laid out a plan that if followed through could contain global warming to a 2°C increase by the end of the century.