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The world has experienced its hottest year since records began. A report from the Copernicus Climate Change Service said every month in the past 12 months broke temperature records. Every month was more than 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer than pre-industrial averages. The industrial period started in the mid-nineteenth century. This is when we started to burn fossil fuels on a large scale. Researcher Carlo Buontempo, director of Copernicus, said the results of the report show a "large and continuing shift" in climate change. He warned: "We are bound to see new records being broken as the climate continues to warm. This is inevitable, unless we stop putting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and the oceans."
Extreme heat has hit countries across the planet this year. Scientists say we are at the beginning of an era that will see more heat-related disasters. In the past year, Earth was 1.64ºC hotter than in pre-industrial times. Extreme temperatures are being seen all across California in the USA. In Death Valley, the mercury hit 53.9º Celsius earlier this week. Meanwhile, Las Vegas broke its all-time heat record. The temperature there reached a scorching 48.9ºC. In the past year, countries have recorded extreme heat across all continents. This has caused wildfires, drought and death. In Saudi Arabia last month, over 1,000 people collapsed and died on a pilgrimage to Mecca. Climate scientist Aditi Mukherji said this showed Earth is in crisis.
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