2018 was the fourth warmest year on record, beating only the last three years, according to figures from the independent climate research group Berkeley Earth.

The temperature was 1.16 degrees Celsius above the average temperature during the second half of the 19th century, which is used as a pre-industrial benchmark. The figures confirm those presented by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in November.

”"2016 remains the warmest year on record. The small decline in 2018 is likely due to short-term natural variations, but the overall pattern continues to be consistent with a long-term trend of global warming," Berkeley Earth writes in a press release.

Source: TT