Global temperatures will likely surge to record levels in the next five years, according to a new update issued by the World Meteorological Organization.
A combination of man-made greenhouse gas emissions and a naturally occurring El Niño event will probably cause world average temperatures to exceed the Paris agreement target of 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial levels for at least one year between 2023 and 2027.
This has never happened before - the warmest year on record, 2016, was just under 1.3 degrees warmer.
It is almost certain that the next five-year period will be the warmest on record.
Dr Christopher Hewitt, director of the World Meteorological Organization climate services, spoke with Ingrid Hipkiss.
