The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported on May 18 that ocean temperatures and acidity levels reached record highs last year, according to Reuters.
In its annual global climate report, the WMO stated that melting ice has led to record sea level rise last year. “The climate is changing before our eyes,” said WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas in a statement.
The WMO report indicates that oceans have become warmer and more acidic. (Photo: AFP).
Additionally, the WMO report noted that carbon dioxide and methane levels in the atmosphere exceeded previous records in 2021.
This report comes after the latest climate assessment from the United Nations, which warned that humanity must significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions or face increasingly severe changes to the global climate.
The oceans have warmed significantly over the past 20 years, reaching record levels in 2021 and are expected to warm further, the report stated. It could take centuries or even millennia to reverse this change, the report added.
The oceans are also experiencing the highest acidity levels in at least 26,000 years as they absorb and react to more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Moreover, sea levels have risen by 4.5 cm over the past decade. Globally, last year’s average temperature was 1.11 degrees Celsius higher than the average temperature during the pre-industrial period. According to Taalas, recording another record hot year is only a matter of time.
In comments to the press, Taalas noted that climate challenges receive less media attention, as other crises like the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s “military campaign” in Ukraine dominate headlines.
Selwin Hart, advisor to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, also criticized countries for failing to adhere to climate commitments due to the conflict in Ukraine. He stated that this has driven energy prices up and caused European nations to seek alternatives to Russian energy.
