Record heat makes climate crisis very real

The 1.5 degree barrier is likely to be hit in the next five years. : Pixabay Pixabay Licence

The planet is set to break through the 1.5 degree warming barrier within five years making efforts to mitigate climate change even more urgent.

Asia has been suffering for weeks from a heatwave that has seen temperatures hit record levels in some countries.

The World Meteorological Organization says it is likely the planet will break the 1.5 degrees barrier sometime in the next five years. Earth’s hottest year was 2016. It says there is a 98 percent chance one of the next five years will exceed that.

They say the extreme heat was at least 30 times more likely because of climate breakdowns caused by human activity.

The heat surge is due to  increasing emissions and a likely El Niño weather pattern later this year. Indeed, researchers from Australia’s CSIRO have found human activity has likely caused changes to El Nino.

How can we adapt to hotter days and nights, and what does record heat mean for our cities?  Scroll down to read what some of the leading thinkers on climate in the region have to say.

Originally published under Creative Commons by 360info™.