Learning English

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The story

The latest report from the World Meteorological Organization, part of the UN, shows that 2015-2025 were the hottest 11 years ever recorded. 

91% of this heat energy is stored in the ocean and is equalivalent to 18 times the energy used by all humans in the world in a year, though the impact of this is not fully understood. 

Current levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are the highest for 2 million years and the amount of methane and nitrous oxide are at their highest levels for 800,000 years.

Climate scientists, as well as UN secretary general Antonio Guterres, are very concerned.

News headlines 

Earth's climate shows energy imbalance
RTE

World Meteorological Day Sees Key Climate Indicators 'FlashingRed'
US News

Earth's climate swings increasingly out of balance
World Meteorological Organization

Key words and phrases

imbalance
where two things are not equal to each other

• Top universities are encouraging girls to study science to address the gender imbalance in the subject.

flashing red
warning about a negative situation

• I've just seen a breakdown of our accounts. All the indicators are flashingred. We need to do something urgently.

swing
change suddenly

• The opinion polls have swung away from the president. There's no way she can win the next election.

Next 

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