UN Report Warns of Hottest Decade in History redOrbit
go to original July 4, 2013

U.N. report details last decade's climate extremes (ClimateProgressWorld)

Regardless of whether it was caused by human activity or not, the United Nations is reporting the last decade was the warmest on record in both hemispheres for both land and sea.

According to an official report from the UNs World Meteorological Organization (WMO), land and sea temperatures averaged 58 degrees Fahrenheit – compared to the long term average of 57.2 F based on data going back to 1881.

The report also noted the temperature increases of the past 10 years are unprecedented as about 94 percent of countries have recorded their warmest decade ever.

“The decadal rate of increase between 1991-2000 and 2001-2010 was unprecedented,” said WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud. “Rising concentrations of heat-trapping greenhouse gases are changing our climate, with far-reaching implications for our environment and our oceans.”

During the first decade of the 21st century, the average global temperature increased by 0.37 F over the 1990s’ average, the report said. Before that, warming rose by 0.25 F from the 1980s to the 1990s.

In discussing the report with the AFP, Jarraud pushed back against the theory put forward by some climate change skeptics that says global warming has been leveling off in recent years.

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