2020 Was the Joint-hottest Year on Record

2020 has tied with 2016 and 2019 as the hottest year in recorded history, according to a new report from the United Nations' World Meteorological Organisation.

The global temperature rose to 1.2°C above pre-industrial levels, just 0.3°C shy of the 1.5°C warming limit set in the Paris Agreement, which was signed by 196 countries.

Global greenhouse emissions also increased in 2020, even though COVID-19 led to an unprecedented global economic slowdown that plunged most countries into recession.