Climate Facts: 2022 to become eighth hottest year on record

The complexities of climate change and its associated jargon can make it difficult to digest. TheCable’s climate quick facts will help to demystify these climate concepts through easy-to-understand and straight-to-the-point explanations.

• According to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), 2022 is expected to continue the run of the world’s hottest years with a temperature forecast of between 0.97°C and 1.21°C above the average for the pre-industrial period (1850-1900).

• For eight years in a row, global temperatures have exceeded 1.0°C above pre-industrial levels, according to WMO. 

• In 2019, global carbon emissions from fossil fuels and industry reached a record high of 36.44 billion metric tonnes but fell by 5.8 percent in 2020 due to COVID, according to statista. 

• Carbon dioxide constitutes only 3.6 percent of total greenhouse gases, out of which 0.12 percent is attributed to human activities.

• Carbon dioxide is not the only contributing gas to climate change. Other gases like methane and nitrous oxide are far more dangerous than carbon dioxide alone.