WMO says 2015 is Set to Become the Hottest Year, but 2016 could be even Hotter

2015 is set to become the hottest year in the record books, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported. The United Nations organization warned that due to the El Niño weather pattern, 2016 will probably be even hotter.

Michel Jarraud, the WMO director-general, stressed the importance of combating climate change. The WMO stated that if nations are not active in this fight, global average temperatures could increase by at least six degrees Celsius.

"The more we wait for action, the more difficult it will be," Jarraud said at a news conference reported by Reuters. "You have scenarios assuming very strong decisions, very quick and sharp reduction of greenhouse gases, and you have other scenarios with business as usual, where you end up with predictions of additional warming of 5, 6 degrees, maybe even more. That will very much depend on the decisions (in Paris)."

Jarraud added that since here is no clear way of stopping climate change, people and countries throughout the world must do their parts. For example, the world needs more people who are wiling to choose walking over driving and more companies that will better monitor greenhouse gas emissions.

The experts noted that in 2015, El Niño contributed to about 16 to 20 percent of the increase in temperatures. El Niño is a natural weather phenomenon that warms the Pacific Ocean' sea-surface temperatures. The current El Niño, which is one of the strongest on record, will most likely affect temperatures in 2016. They added that man-made global warming is also another huge factor in the rising temperatures.

"The year whose annual mean temperature is likely to be most strongly influenced by the current El Niño is 2016 rather than 2015," the WMO said.
The WMO also reported that the planet has warmed by 1.8 degrees. The current goal is to keep warming within 3.6 degrees of pre-industrial times

The global climate summit starts on Monday in Paris.