World lurches closer to two degree global warming limit

The world has lurched closer to the 2-degree global warming limit in recent months, prompting calls by scientists for clearer policies aimed at making Australia and other rich nations carbon-emissions neutral before 2050.

February's spike in global temperatures lifted temperatures to 1.21 degrees above the 20th century average, and were the biggest departure from the norm in 137 years of records. Temperatures over land were 2.3 degrees warmer than average, according to the US National Oceanic and AtmosphericAdministration (NOAA).

“There are reasons to be optimistic but there also reasons to be terrified “ - John Connor, CEO, The Climate Institute

So far this year, 2016 is looking like no other in history, American meteorologist Eric Holthaus noted in an article for the FiveThirtyEight website this week.

Read Peter Hannam’s story in the Melbourne Age - “Spike in global temperature fuels climate change fears.”