BBC News Online: Sci/Tech

Scorched earth in 1997

Such a rise could push them above the previous record year, 1995. So far, five of the hottest years have come in the 1990s.

The findings add to a growing body of evidence of long-term climate change.

Although not all scientist blame carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions for the increase in hot air, this year's figures are evidence the upwards trend has not stopped.

The news comes just ahead of the global environment summit in Kyoto, Japan, when developed nations hope to limit the amount of gas pumped into the atmosphere.

El Nino partly responsible for rise

The El Nino weather phenomenon, which causes cyclical warming of the Pacific Ocean with knock-on effects around the world, has been blamed for contributing to global warming.

It delayed the arrival of the monsoon in southeast Asia as fires created heavy smog in Indonesia and Malaysia.

But British scientists say El Nino is not solely responsible for the 1997 rise.

Kyoto summit begins next week

The European Union has put forward its most ambitious plan yet to combat climate change in advance of Kyoto's start on Monday.

The 15 member states propose all 165 signatories of the 1992 Rio Convention agree to reduce emissions by 15% of 2010.

But gridlock is still a possible outcome. The United States continues to demand developing nations commit to reductions before it does.

In turn, many governments say the US, as the producer of a quarter of the world's pollution, should lead the way.

The two countries expected to overtake America in pollution levels in the next century are India and China.

India has refused to put the environment before economic development and China now appears to be taking the same position.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Tang Guoqiang, said commitments at Kyoto "should be limited to developed countries."

China's Premier Li Peng added that it would be "unfair and impossible" to apply a uniform agreement: "Those who are overweight need to be on a diet while those who are undernourished need more nutrition."

But efforts for international settlement continue.

After the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) summit in Vancouver, Pacific Rim leaders issued a statement saying the challenge "requires cooperative efforts by the international community in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities."

Yet whatever agreement is reached, it is likely to be too little for environmentalists and scientists, and too much for many businesses.

In America especially, industrialists have argued that tough targets will destroy jobs.

The US chief negotiator on climate change, Under Secretary of State Stuart Eizenstat, has laid out her country's position: "We are not going there for an agreement at any cost."

Related Stories

Kyoto 'will not stop the rising tide' (From Special Report)
Japan Environment Conference ends with few signs of progress (From Despatches)
Greenhouse gas war 'helps economy'
Environment conference ends in stalemate
Delegates prepare for Tokyo environment congress
El Niño - a spanner in the weather machine (From Special Report)
Life in the greenhouse (From Special Report)
Impact of global warming may be severe and wide-ranging (From Special Report)
Our changing world (From Special Report)
See and hear how the world could alter (From Special Report)

Internet Links

The Met Office
Environment Agency of England and Wales
United Nations Framework for the Convention on Climate Change
Countdown to Kyoto
US Environment Protection Agency

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Summaries

In this section

Kyoto 'will not stop the rising tide' (From Special Report)
Rogue satellite gives NASA fuel for thought
A lot less bother...
Banned - Domain name dealing
Green light for safe driving
Tuneful twist to toilet training
'Hangover' test revealed