2015 still on track to be the hottest year ever recorded

The monthly anomaly of the global average surface temperature in November 2015 (i.e. the average of the near-surface air temperature over land and the SST) was +0.54°C above the 1981-2010 average (+0.88°C above the 20th century average), and was the warmest since 1891. On a longer time scale, global average surface temperatures have risen at a rate of about 0.71°C per century.


Five Warmest Years (Anomalies)

1st. 2015 (+0.54°C), 2nd. 2013 (+0.31°C), 3rd. 2001 (+0.26°C), 4th. 2012 (+0.25°C), 5th. 2014, 2006, 2004, 1997 (+0.24°C)

Two views out there about the COP-21 Paris Agreement. One showing us (what could be) the success of the agreement and one not.

Stefan Rahmstorf: I've seen some disappointed comments on the Paris climate agreement. To those who say we need to do more to stop global warming: Yes, of course! To those who expected more from a UN consensus agreement (where a single dissenting country can make the whole thing collapse): You live in la la land. This UN process is just one of many levels where we need to fight the climate crisis, and it has finally delivered its contribution (with the exception of aviation & shipping emissions which have been deferred to next year). This is a huge step. It is a good foundation for everyone to turn to their own governments and business leaders and demand concrete steps that will help to stop global warming near 1.5 °C.