Earth in uncharted territory on global warming

Heating up: Smoke billowing from the chimneys of Belchatow Power Station in Poland, Europe’s largest coal-fired power plant. Burning of fossil fuels such as coal and oil has led to rising levels of greenhouse gases. Photo: Reuters

Earth has heated up by 1°C, as greenhouse gases hit record levels just weeks before a crucial climate summit in Paris. Other reports forecast rising seas were set to swamp large swathes of New York and Shanghai, and that global warming would drive millions of people into poverty worldwide.

The slew of fresh planetary warnings came as ministers gathered in Paris to search for common ground on divisive issues ahead of the summit, which runs from Nov 30 to Dec 11.