WMO sees global average temperature at new record in five years

We all know global warming is happening but on Monday (September 23) came another stark warning about the reality facing mankind.

Scientists said the global average temperature is set to rise to at least 1.2 to 1.3 degrees celsius above pre-industrial levels over the next five years.

Omar Baddour from the World Meteorological Organization is the co-ordinator of the report.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION (WMO) SENIOR SCIENTIFIC OFFICER AND COORDINATOR OF THE REPORT, OMAR BADDOUR, SAYING:

"Comparing to the previous five-year period, which is the purpose of the report, we can see that it is 0.2 degree centigrade warmer than 2011-2015... If you want to compare the last five-year period with all the five-year periods in the past, the current five-year period is the warmest ever recorded five-year period."

Climate change has sparked large protests in New York over the last week, ahead of world leaders meeting for the U.N. Climate Action Summit.

They're aiming to build on their pledges from the 2015 Paris Agreement, which aims to cap the global temperature rise at 1.5 degrees.

Maxx Dilley from the World Meteorological Organization warns that tougher targets may have to be set.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR OF WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION (WMO) CLIMATE PREDICTION AND ADAPTATION DIVISION, MAXX DILLEY, SAYING:

"The current nationally determined contributions submitted by the parties to the Paris agreement would have to be three times as ambitious as they currently are to meet the two degree target and five times as ambitious as they currently are to meet the 1.5 degrees target. And that assumes of course that these pledges are actually implemented."

A rise of two degrees celsius is expected to wipe out more than 99 percent of coral reefs and melt most of the sea ice in the Arctic.