Temperature record predictions - WMO
/
2:05
/
MP4
/
152.9 MB

Edited News , Press Conferences | WMO

WMO - Press Conference: Global climate predictions for next five years - 05 June 2024

World 'too hot to handle' as new temperature records beckon, UN weather watchdog warns

At least one of the years between now and 2028 will very likely set a new temperature record - breaking through the crucial 1.5°C temperature limit – whose dangers are already being felt - the UN weather agency, WMO, said on Wednesday.

Speaking in Geneva, Ms. Barrett noted that there is a “nearly nine in 10 likelihood that at least one year between 2024 and 2028 will be the hottest on record”. When this happens, it will be “the hottest on record, even hotter than 2023, which smashed all temperature records”.
She underscored, however, that temporary breaches do not mean that the 1.5 °C goal set in the Paris Agreement is permanently lost because it refers to long-term warming over decades.

The global average near-surface temperature for each year between 2024 and 2028 is predicted to be between 1.1°C and 1.9°C higher than the 1850-1900 baseline.

There is a 47 per cent likelihood that the global temperature averaged out over the five-year 2024-2028 period will exceed 1.5°C above the pre-industrial era, according to the WMO Global Annual to Decadal Update; this is up from the 32 per cent likelihood featured in last year’s report for the 2023-2027 period.

Beyond the scientific data, the WMO senior official highlighted the impact on human health and survival first and foremost, echoing repeated calls by the UN Secretary-General for climate action:

“As our planet enters this new record-breaking era, we can expect to see more oppressive heat waves affecting the health of billions of people; more increases in marine heatwaves jeopardizing livelihoods and natural ecosystems along our coasts. More sea level rise threatening coastal populations everywhere, more intense rainfall events, pushing our infrastructure beyond its limits. The future scenarios many of us have feared are here now.”

Under the Paris Agreement, countries agreed to keep long-term global average surface temperature well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C by the end of this century. The scientific community has repeatedly warned that warming of more than 1.5°C risks unleashing far more severe climate change impacts and extreme weather and every fraction of a degree of warming matters.

“Beyond the predictions and statistics, is the stark reality that we risk trillions of dollars in economic losses, millions of lives upended and destruction of fragile and precious ecosystems and the biodiversity that exists there,” Ms. Barrett said. “What is clear is that the Paris Agreement target of 1.5 degrees C(elsius) is hanging on a thread.”

ends

STORY: Record temperature predictions - WMO

TRT: 2’05”

SOURCE: UNTV CH

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

ASPECT RATIO: 16:9

DATELINE: 5 JUNE 2024 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

SHOTLIST

1. Exterior medium-wide, UN Geneva flag alley.

2. Wide, WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett holding up latest report.

3. SOUNDBITE (English) – WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett: “In the past seven days, for example, many locations in North Africa, the Middle East, India, Pakistan and Mexico had temperatures of 45 to 50 degrees Celsius and even higher. And this is frankly too hot to handle.”

4. Medium-wide from elevated camera of podium speakers and journalists.

5. SOUNDBITE (English) – WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett: “There is a nearly nine in 10 likelihood that at least one year between 2024 and 2028 will be the hottest on record, even hotter than 2023, which smashed all temperature records.

6. Wide, journalists and TV video journalists to rear.

7. SOUNDBITE (English) – WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett: “As our planet enters this new record-breaking era, we can expect to see more oppressive heat waves affecting the health of billions of people; more increases in marine heatwaves jeopardizing livelihoods and natural ecosystems along our coasts. More sea level rise threatening coastal populations everywhere, more intense rainfall events, pushing our infrastructure beyond its limits. The future scenarios many of us have feared are here now.”

8. Medium-wide, journalists and TV video journalists with cameras.

9. SOUNDBITE (English) – WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett: “Beyond the predictions and statistics, is the stark reality that we risk trillions of dollars in economic losses, millions of lives upended and destruction of fragile and precious ecosystems and the biodiversity that exists there. What is clear is that the Paris Agreement target of 1.5 degrees C(elsius) is hanging on a thread.”

10. Medium-wide, Press room showing rows of seats, journalists and podium.

11. Medium, journalist typing on laptop.

12. Medium, photographer lining up shot.


Audio Files 2
Download WMO - Press Conference: Global climate predictions for next five years - 05 June 2024 (Continuity)
Download
Download Temperature record predictions - WMO (Edited Story)
Download

Similar Stories

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk Remarks to Human Rights Council meeting on the Israeli strike on negotiators in Qatar

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk Remarks to Human Rights Council meeting on the Israeli strike on negotiators in Qatar ENG FRA

Israel’s strike on negotiators in Doha on 9 September was a shocking breach of international law, an assault on regional peace and stability, and a blow against the integrity of mediation and negotiating processes around the world,” UN High Commissioner Volker Türk said on Tuesday. 

Gaza Al-Mawasi update - UNICEF

1

1

1

Edited News | UNICEF

Gaza Al-Mawasi update - UNICEF ENG FRA

Gaza: Thirsty and starving, war-battered families face ‘inhumane’ evacuation 

As bombs continue to fall on Gaza City as part of the intensifying Israeli military operation, families with starving children are being pushed southwards from one “hellscape” to another, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 16 September 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | IOM , UNICEF

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 16 September 2025 ENG FRA

UN Envoy to brief on Syria; worsening crisis in Gaza; crises overlap in Afghanistan.

HRC Press conference: Commission of Inquiry (COI) on OPT, including East Jerusalem, and Israel - 16 Sept. 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | HRC , UNOG

HRC Press conference: Commission of Inquiry (COI) on OPT, including East Jerusalem, and Israel - 16 Sept. 2025 ENG FRA

Latest report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel.

OHCHR/ Special Procedures - Press conference: Special Rapporteurs on OPT - 15 September 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | OHCHR

OHCHR/ Special Procedures - Press conference: Special Rapporteurs on OPT - 15 September 2025 ENG FRA

Press briefing: Human rights situation in Gaza and across the occupied Palestinian territory

UNIDIR Press conference on Cluster Munitions - 15 September 2025

1

2

1

Press Conferences | UNIDIR

UNIDIR Press conference on Cluster Munitions - 15 September 2025 ENG FRA

Launch of the Cluster Munition Monitor 2025 report

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Elizabeth Throssell on DPRK

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Elizabeth Throssell on DPRK ENG FRA

New UN Human Rights report finds 10 years of increased suffering repression and fear

The UN Human Rights Office on Friday published a report on the human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) since 2014. 

Afghanistan update - UNICEF UNHCR 12 September 2025

1

1

2

Edited News | UNICEF , UNHCR

Afghanistan update - UNICEF UNHCR 12 September 2025 ENG FRA

The ongoing humanitarian response to the devastating Afghanistan earthquake disaster continued on Friday, although essential services have been cut for operational reasons following reinforced Taliban restrictions on women working with the UN, the global body said.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 12 September 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | WIPO , WMO , OHCHR , UNICEF , UNHCR , WHO

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 12 September 2025 ENG FRA

Michele Zaccheo, Chief, UNTV, Radio and Webcast Section, United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, which was attended by spokespersons and representatives from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations Children's Fund, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, World Health Organization, World Intellectual Property Organization, World Meteorological Organization, and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights report on DRC at the 60th Human Rights Council

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights report on DRC at the 60th Human Rights Council ENG FRA

Un nouveau rapport du Haut-Commissariat des Nations Unies aux droits de l'homme sur la République démocratique du Congo évoque le spectre de crimes de guerre et de crimes contre l'humanité dans le Nord et le Sud-Kivu., 

HRC60 Press Conference: Report of the Sudan Fact-Finding Mission - 09 September 2025

2

1

2

Press Conferences , Edited News | HRC

HRC60 Press Conference: Report of the Sudan Fact-Finding Mission - 09 September 2025 ENG FRA

A high-level independent rights probe into the Sudan crisis on Tuesday condemned the many grave crimes committed against civilians by all parties to the war, citing disturbing evidence indicating that they had been “deliberately targeted, displaced and starved”.

Ukraine attacks - health update - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO

Ukraine attacks - health update - WHO ENG FRA

Ukraine: ‘Relentless’ attacks rattle health system as winter approaches: WHO

Ambulances attacked, chronically ill patients lacking care and no peace in sight: for millions of Ukrainians, the run-up to another winter of war is just the latest life-or-death challenge they face, the UN health agency (WHO) said on Tuesday.