WMO: ‘2015-2024 assessed as the hottest period in the last 175 years’

The years 2015-2024 are being assessed as the hottest period observed in the last 175 years, Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

Saulo made the insight during a press conference on the first day of COP29 in Baku.

She noted that long-term global warming is currently about 1.3 degrees higher compared to the baseline level of the 1850s. "Climate change confronts us almost every day in the form of extreme weather," she said. “This year, record levels of precipitation and floods have been observed in many countries, causing significant human losses and affecting communities across all continents. Increasing heat waves have engulfed dozens of countries, causing temperatures to exceed 50 degrees Celsius several times."

The secretary-general also highlighted that the melting of glaciers is accelerating. She also pointed out that combating climate change is only possible through joint initiatives and highlighted the importance of investing in clean energy and renewable sources like solar and wind for a just transition.

To accelerate efforts in combating climate change, Saulo called for increased investments in various alternatives.

"We constantly support investing in national meteorological and hydrological services to increase the number of observations. It should be noted that our observations in the world's oceans are somewhat weak. Therefore, we need additional investments that will help us both assess the impacts of climate change and mitigate the ongoing processes" she said.