WMO sees global average temperature at new record in five years

People take part in protests ahead of the upcoming G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany on July 2, 2017. Placard reads "Global Warming is NOT a Myth". (REUTERS File Photo)

GENEVA, September 23 (Reuters): The global average temperature is set to rise to at least 1.2 to 1.3 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels over the next five years, a World Meteorological Organization (WMO) official said on Monday.

"Basically we are on track to reach at least 1.2- 1.3 degrees centigrade (above pre-industrial levels) over the next five years," said Omar Baddour, WMO senior scientific officer, in response to a Reuters question.

The comments came after the U.N. agency released a report on Sunday showing that the period from 2015-2019 is set to be the warmest five-year period on record, rising by 0.2 degrees Celsius over 2011-2015.