However, this does not mean that the world will definitely exceed the threshold of global warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels set out in the 2015 Paris Agreement.

“This is the first time in history that there is a high probability that we will exceed 1.5C, with a 66% chance of temporary temperatures reaching 1.5C by 2027,” said Adam Scaife, head of long-term forecasting at the UK’s Hadley Centre.

Last year’s report put the odds at around 50% that temperatures will reach 1.5 degrees Celsius in the next five years. That would mean the world has not made enough progress in cutting greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming.

Part of the reason why temperatures could soon reach 1.5 degrees Celsius is the El Nino phenomenon that is expected to develop in the coming months. When El Nino occurs, warmer water in the Pacific Ocean heats up the atmosphere above, raising global temperatures.

WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said in a press release that El Nino "will combine with human-caused climate change to push global temperatures to unprecedented levels."

The El Niño phenomenon is worrying scientists around the world because it has the potential to fuel extreme events and bring warmer weather to North America and drought to South America, putting the Amazon rainforest at a higher risk of fires.

The WMO also found a 98% chance that the next five years will be the warmest on record.

Quoc Thien (according to Reuters)