Summary:
- The Earth's average surface temperature has risen at an unprecedented rate over the past two years, according to a new analysis.
- The analysis found that the global average temperature was 1.2°C above pre-industrial levels in 2020 and 2021, marking the fastest two-year increase in modern record-keeping.
- The rapid warming is attributed to a combination of human-caused climate change and natural climate variability, underscoring the urgent need for significant emissions reductions to mitigate the effects of global warming.