THE HOTTEST five years on record have been confirmed as 2013 through 2017, according to climate data released last week.
A Climate Council report coincided with the release of climate data from peak climate observation body the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The data showed the global temperature averaged over the last five years (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017) was the highest ever on record for any five-year period.
Climate Councillor and international climate scientist Professor Will Steffen said the effects of intensifying climate change were observable across Australia.
“Australians have been touched by soaring temperatures, with some regions in New South Wales and South Australia experiencing daytime temperatures nearing 50 degrees last summer,” he said.
“Severe heatwaves are silent killers, causing more deaths since the 1890s than bushfires, cyclones, earthquakes, floods and severe storms combined.”
The world’s 10 hottest years on record have all occurred since 1998 and 17 of the 18 hottest years on record have occurred this century.
2017 was Australia’s third hottest year on record.
