Surface temperatures have risen 1.35 degrees celcius above average this February, according to the latest data released by NASA, and it has again shone a spotlight on climate change.
Australian State and Federal governments are divided on the issue of climate change, but students from the University of Wollongong are calling for strong leadership on the issue.
“The Australian government is not doing enough to combat climate change. As a rich country, with high historical greenhouse gas emissions, we have both a responsibility and capability to have better policy on climate,” Convenor of the Fossil Free UOW campaign Emily Kain said.
Atmospheric chemistry PhD student Maximillien Desservatez said the NASA data didn’t surprise him.
“Back in January 2014, we were told that 2013 was the second hottest year on record (after 2010),” he said.
“Then 2014 became the hottest year, and back in January we were told that 2015 was the hottest year on record, and by a significant margin having passed the 1*C above pre-industrial averages. We keep beating records – this is the new normal nowadays.”
Mr Desservatez said the rise in temperature in the Arctic was a concern.
“The scariest statistic for me, is the fact that in some places in the Arctic, the temperature rose 14 degrees celsius above normal. Some places were even exposed to temperatures above zero degrees celsius.”