Summary of WMO Statement on the State of the Global Climate in 2019

World Meteorological Organization

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WMO Statement on the State of the Global Climate in 2019 summary

Editorial Rating

The rating – what does it mean?

At getAbstract, we summarize books* that help people understand the world and make it better. Whatever we select for our library has to excel in one or the other of these two core criteria:

Enlightening – You’ll learn things that will inform and improve your decisions.

Helpful – You’ll take-away practical advice that will help you get better at what you do.

We rate each piece of content on a scale of 1–10 with regard to these two core criteria. Our rating helps you sort the titles on your reading list from solid (5) to brilliant (10). Books we rate below 5 won’t be summarized. Here's what the ratings mean:

10 – Brilliant. A helpful and/or enlightening book that, in addition to meeting the highest standards in all pertinent aspects, stands out even among the best. Often an instant classic and must-read for everyone.
9 – Superb. A helpful and/or enlightening book that is extremely well rounded, has many strengths and no shortcomings worth mentioning.
8 – Very good. A helpful and/or enlightening book that has a substantial number of outstanding qualities without excelling across the board, e.g. presents the latest findings in a topical field and is written by a renowned expert but lacks a bit in style.
7 – Good. A helpful and/or enlightening book that combines two or more noteworthy strengths, e.g. contains uncommonly novel ideas and presents them in an engaging manner.
6 – Notable. A helpful and/or enlightening book that stands out by at least one aspect, e.g. is particularly well structured.
5 – Solid. A helpful and/or enlightening book, in spite of its obvious shortcomings. For instance, it may offer decent advice in some areas while being repetitive or unremarkable in others.

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Qualities

Analytical
Scientific
Applicable

While the rating tells you how good a book is according to our two core criteria, it says nothing about its particular defining features. Therefore, we use a set of 20 qualities to characterize each book by its strengths:

Applicable – You’ll get advice that can be directly applied in the workplace or in everyday situations.
Analytical – You’ll understand the inner workings of the subject matter.
Background – You’ll get contextual knowledge as a frame for informed action or analysis.
Bold – You’ll find arguments that may break with predominant views.
Comprehensive – You’ll find every aspect of the subject matter covered.
Concrete Examples – You’ll get practical advice illustrated with examples of real-world applications or anecdotes.
Controversial – You’ll be confronted with strongly debated opinions.
Eloquent – You’ll enjoy a masterfully written or presented text.
Engaging – You’ll read or watch this all the way through the end.
Eye opening – You’ll be offered highly surprising insights.
For beginners – You’ll find this to be a good primer if you’re a learner with little or no prior experience/knowledge.
For experts – You’ll get the higher-level knowledge/instructions you need as an expert.
Hot Topic – You’ll find yourself in the middle of a highly debated issue.
Innovative – You can expect some truly fresh ideas and insights on brand-new products or trends.
Insider’s take – You’ll have the privilege of learning from someone who knows her or his topic inside-out.
Inspiring – You’ll want to put into practice what you’ve read immediately.
Overview – You’ll get a broad treatment of the subject matter, mentioning all its major aspects.
Scientific – You’ll get facts and figures grounded in scientific research.
Visionary – You’ll get a glimpse of the future and what it might mean for you.
Well structured – You’ll find this to be particularly well organized to support its reception or application.

Recommendation

Current “Global Climate Indicators” such as greenhouse gases, ocean and land temperatures, sea levels, ocean acidification, and ice cover point to an indisputable increase in global warming. This detailed WMO report describes the alarming state of climate change in 2019, including a shrinking ozone layer, heating oceans, sea level rise, severe storms, wildfires and drought. People on every continent feel the impacts, which include health issues, dislocations, ecosystem destruction and economic upheaval.

About the Author

The report’s contributors include WMO members, Data Centers, United Nations Agencies and a variety of individuals from scientific organizations and universities around the world.

Summary

2019 saw a global mean temperature 1.1˚C higher than pre-industrial averages.

The last five years were the warmest on record. The last decade was the warmest in recorded history. This trend dates back to the 1980s.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Special Report: Global Warming of 1.5˚C concluded that human-induced factors represent the most significant causes of increased warming, especially affecting the Arctic, Alaska, Southern Africa, Southeast Asia, Europe, Brazil and Australia.

Atmospheric greenhouse gases increased significantly in 2019.

In 2018, increases of methane, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide ranged from 123% to 259% over pre-industrial levels. Preliminary 2019 data indicate additional increases. Calculations are made by the WMO’s Global Atmosphere Watch Programme, using 1750 as a baseline year. Overall levels reflect the balance between emissions and uptake by Earth’s oceans and biosphere. Fossil fuel burning and land use changes such as deforestation and fires drive the amount of gases entering the atmosphere...

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