The United Nations is releasing a key report Monday that is expected to deliver even unpleasant warnings about how rapidly the planet is warming -- and how harmful the effects might get.
The document will provide governments with the latest data on the current impacts and future risks of global warming ahead of a climate summit spearheaded by a UN-selected committee of experts in November in Glasgow.
Since the last report by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2013, both the average worldwide temperature and greenhouse gas emissions have only continued to soar.
Since it was founded in 1988, the IPCC has released five assessment reports updating the science on climate change, its effects, future risks, and ways to deal with the problems.
Nearly 200 member nations are participating in the landmark Paris climate agreement, whose objective is to keep global warming under 2 degrees Celsius, ideally no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius by end of the century compared to pre-industrial times, the Associated Press reported.
That revised carbon forecast may serve as a guide to countries as they chart their own emissions-reduction strategies before November's climate summit.
According to Cop26 President Alok Sharma, the planet is getting "dangerously close" to running out of time to prevent a climate change catastrophe from happening.
Sharma, who has been appointed to making a success of the upcoming climate conference in Glasgow, said failing to slash warming to 1.5 Celsius would be "catastrophic."
Sharma is tasked with securing commitments from key governments as he prepares to host the climate change conference in Glasgow.
"You are seeing on a daily basis what's taking shape across the globe. Last year was the hottest on record, the last decade the hottest on record," Sharma said, as quoted by The Telegraph.
The former business secretary was criticized this week for the number of flights he has taken since January in a bid to strike a deal with nations that have been slow in hitting their emissions targets.
The UN climate summit will see countries discuss what more each government can do to cut global warming and ensure those affected by the impact of it get financial aid.
