Bi-Weekly Press Briefing: Climate Predictions - Next Five Years - WMO
/
2:27
/
MP4
/
180.8 MB

Edited News | WMO

Climate Predictions Next Five Years - WMO

98% chance at least one in the next five years will beat the temperature record set in 2016, says WMO latest report

Global temperatures are set to reach new records in the next five years (2023-2027) and will be more than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels for at least one of the next five years, the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Wednesday.

“There is a 66 per cent chance that we would exceed 1.5 degrees during the coming five years,” said Professor Petteri Taalas, WMO Secretary-General, talking to media at the United Nations in Geneva.

And there is a 98 per cent likelihood that at least one of the next five years, and the five-year period as a whole, will be the warmest on record.

“We will see the warmest year on record during the coming five years once this La Niña phase is over,” predicted WMO’s Secretary-General. “These kinds of variations are a combination of these specific surface temperature variations and the impacts of climate change.”

Scientists are expecting a temporary warming effect from the naturally occurring El Niño and climate change to develop in the coming months. The cooling influence of La Niña over much of the past three years ended in March 2023.

“Climate change is proceeding and once we extract this impact of natural variability caused by the El Niño variability, it is once again demonstrating we are moving in the wrong direction when it comes to increases of temperatures and also when it comes to changes in the global precipitation patterns,” said Prof Taalas.

In addition to increasing global temperatures, human-induced greenhouse gases are leading to more ocean heating and acidification, sea ice and glacier melt, sea level rise and more extreme weather. All this will have far reaching repercussions to health, food security, water management and environment, said WMO.

Arctic warming is disproportionality high, according to the UN agency’s latest climate report. Compared to the 1991-2020 average, the temperature anomaly is predicted to be more than three times as large as the global mean anomaly when averaged over the next five northern hemisphere extended winters.

“The most dramatic changes we expect to happen is in the Arctic where we have already seen more than double the global warming taking place and during the coming five years the estimation is that Arctic temperatures would be three times the global average, so we will see more dramatic impacts there,” said Prof Taalas.

On a more pragmatic and encouraging note, Dr Leon Hermanson, climate scientist from the UK Met Office, insisted that cutting greenhouse gas emissions “will reduce the warming and will reduce these big impacts…it will be sad the day we pass 1.5(C) but it’s not a reason to give up, we have to continue working out how we can reduce emissions of greenhouse gases as much as possible even after that.”

-ends-

STORY: Climate Predictions Next Five Years - WMO

TRT: 02’26”

SOURCE: UNTV CH
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
RELEASE DATE: 17 May 2023
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND


SHOTLIST

  1. Exterior wide shot: UN flag alley UN Geneva.
  2. Wide shot of podium, speakers, conference room, Palais des Nations, Geneva
  3. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Prof Petteri Taalas, WMO Secretary-General: “There is a 66 per cent chance that we would exceed 1.5 degrees during the coming five years.”
  4. Close-up: cameraman, monitors in background
  5. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Prof Petteri Taalas, WMO Secretary-General: “We will see the warmest year on record during the coming five years once this La Niña phase is over. These kinds of variations are a combination of these specific surface temperature variations and the impacts of climate change.”
  6. Medium shot: cameraman takes photos of speakers on podium
  7. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Prof Petteri Taalas, WMO Secretary-General: “The most dramatic changes we expect to happen is in the Arctic where we have already seen more than double the global warming taking place and during the coming five years the estimation is that Arctic temperatures would be three times the global average, so we will see more dramatic impacts there.”
  8. Wide shot: journalists, cameras, technicians
  9. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Prof Petteri Taalas, WMO Secretary-General: “Climate change is proceeding and once we extract this impact of natural variability caused by the El Niño variability, it is once again demonstrating we are moving in the wrong direction when it comes to increases of temperatures and also when it comes to changes in the global precipitation patterns.”
  10. Speakers visible on monitors with camera in foreground
  11. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Dr Leon Hermanson, Met Office climate scientist: “We need to emit as few as possible of any greenhouse gases in any emissions that we manage to cut will reduce the warming and will reduce these big impacts we have been talking about. So, it will be sad the day we pass 1.5 but it’s not a reason to give up, we have to continue working out how we can reduce emissions of greenhouse gases as much as possible even after that.”
  12. Wide shot: technicians, journalists in room
  13. Close-up: laptop
  14. Medium shot: cameras, technicians

Similar Stories

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on escalating gang violence  in Haiti

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on escalating gang violence in Haiti ENG FRA

The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and the UN Human Rights Office have today released a report detailing the evolution of violent gang incidents beyond the capital Port-au-Prince since October 2024 up to June 2025, and the resulting loss of life and mass displacement. 

Gaza Deir Al Balah killings OHCHR - WHO 11 July 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO , OHCHR

Gaza Deir Al Balah killings OHCHR - WHO 11 July 2025 ENG FRA

Gaza: ‘Unacceptable’ choice between getting shot or getting fed – UN humanitarians 

Following the deaths of several children in an Israeli strike on Palestinians waiting in line for nutritional supplements in central Gaza on Thursday, UN humanitarians have once again condemned the killings of people at aid distribution sites in the enclave. 

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on recent violence in Kenya

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on recent violence in Kenya ENG FRA

At the United Nations bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva, Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights made the following comments on the recent violence in Kenya.

US tariffs impact - ITC

1

1

1

Edited News | ITC

US tariffs impact - ITC ENG FRA

US tariffs uncertainty hurts world economy, with poorest countries hit hardest – top UN economist

A new US decision to further delay the end of a 90-day pause on tariffs is bad for business, a top UN economist said on Tuesday.

Gaza aid site casualties WHO - OHCHR 04 JULY 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO , OHCHR

Gaza aid site casualties WHO - OHCHR 04 JULY 2025 ENG FRA

Gaza aid site horror continues as more starving people shot trying to get food

Amid intensifying hopes for a new Gaza ceasefire, UN humanitarians confirmed disturbing details on Friday of continued killings and injuries of Palestinians desperately seeking food at aid sites.

Iran update - UN Resident Coordinator

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA

Iran update - UN Resident Coordinator ENG FRA

A clearer picture of needs across Iran is beginning to emerge after the conflict this month with Israel, which left hundreds dead, several hospitals hit and a spike in Afghan refugees returning home, the UN’s top official in Tehran said on Tuesday.

Heatwave update - WMO

1

1

1

Edited News | WMO

Heatwave update - WMO ENG FRA

The blistering early-summer heatwave that’s brought life-threatening temperatures across much of the northern hemisphere is a worrying sign of things to come, UN weather experts said on Tuesday. 

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk Remarks to Human Rights Council Annual Panel on adverse impacts of climate change

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk Remarks to Human Rights Council Annual Panel on adverse impacts of climate change ENG FRA

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk made the following remarks to the Human Rights Council annual panel on adverse impacts of climate change.

Gaza update – WHO 27 June 2025

1

1

2

Edited News | WHO

Gaza update – WHO 27 June 2025 ENG FRA

The first meagre midweek delivery of urgently needed medical goods to enter Gaza in months will provide scant relief to the enclave’s people, who continue to be shot and killed as they search for food, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.

HRC 59 - Human Rights in Myanmar - 27 June 2025

2

1

2

Statements , Edited News | HRC

HRC 59 - Human Rights in Myanmar - 27 June 2025 ENG FRA

Enhanced interactive dialogue on the High Commissioner’s report on Myanmar presented by Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and oral update by Thomas Andrews, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar

DR Congo update - Tom Fletcher 26 June 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNOG

DR Congo update - Tom Fletcher 26 June 2025 ENG FRA

The conflict-impacted people of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) urgently need much more international assistance than they are getting today, the UN’s top aid official said on Thursday.

Myanmar crisis - Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews 25 June 2025

1

1

2

Edited News | UNOG

Myanmar crisis - Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews 25 June 2025 ENG FRA

Violence in Myanmar is spiralling as the military junta increases its attacks on monasteries, schools and camps sheltering people uprooted by the civil war, a top independent human rights investigator warned on Wednesday.