Illustrative photo (Source: AFP/VNA)

This is yet another clear sign that human activities are causing planetary scale changes on land, in the ocean, and in the atmosphere, with harmful and long-lasting ramifications for sustainable development and ecosystems, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

The WMO State of the Global Climate in 2021 report confirmed that the past seven years have been the warmest seven years on record. 2021 was not the warmest only because a La Niña event at the start and end of the year had a temporary cooling effect, but did not reverse the overall trend of rising temperatures.  

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for urgent action to achieve the goal of transforming energy systems from fossil fuels to renewable energy.