Briefs: Hottest year on record; plastic oceans

January 22, 2016
Issue 

2015 the hottest year on record

Last year smashed the record for the hottest year since reporting began in 1850, according to the first full-year figures from the world's three principal temperature estimates.

The Guardian said on January 21: “Data released on Wednesday by the UK Met Office shows the average global temperature in 2015 was 0.75°C higher than the long-term average between 1961 and 1990, much higher than the 0.57°C in 2014, which itself was a record.

The article said the Met Office expected this year to set a new record, meaning the global temperature records will have been broken for three years running.

The Guardian said: “Experts warned that the record-breaking heat shows global warming is driving the world's climate into 'uncharted territory' and that it showed the urgency of implementing the carbon-cutting pledges made by the world's governments in Paris in December.

“Heatwaves have scorched China, Russia, Australia, the Middle East and parts of South America in the last two years, while climate change made the UK's record December rainfall, which caused devastating floods, 50-75% more likely.”

Report says oceans to have more plastic than fish by 2050

The world's oceans may have more plastic debris than fish by the year 2050, according to a new report produced by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and published by the World Economic Forum.

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