2015 to 2019 set to record hottest global temperatures ever

According to a report published by the UN on Sunday, the five year period ending 2019 will see the hottest ever temperatures as global emissions continue to increase.

The world is on the losing side in the race to save the planet from climate disaster. Researchers warn that if efforts to reduce greenhouse gasses aren’t pushed immediately all hell will literally break loose.

Un published the report ahead of its major climate summit on Monday. At the event, the intergovernmental organization’s Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged nations to target greenhouse gas reduction as a priority.

Authors of the report, the Science Advisory Group told the summit that the report “highlights the urgent need for the development of concrete actions that halt global warming and the worst effects of climate change.”

Global temperatures on average this past five years have been recorded as the hottest of any five-year time period. The report says the years between 2015 and 2019 are “currently estimated to be 1.1 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial [1850-1900] times and 0.2 degrees Celsius warmer than 2011-2015.”

Records reportedly began in 1850 with the past four years already the hottest. In a statement to news outlet Al Jazeera, E3G’s chairman Tom Burke says time is not on our side and burning fossil fuels should be put to a halt. “I think the danger is growing – that means we have much less time to solve the problem than we thought we had,” Burke tells the outlet.

Even with countries pledging to cut their emissions, carbon dioxide continued to grow at two percent in 2018.