Global economies and agriculture will be thrown into further turmoil as worldwide temperatures hit record levels in the next five years, causing major shifts to many industries, the New York Times reports. The World Meteorological Organization noted that man-made climate change will combine with an El Niño weather pattern lead to a 98% likelihood that the world will hit a new global high temperature at least once in the next five years. The group also predicts that the next five years will end being the hottest five-year period on record.
The circulation of hotter air will force changes to the world agriculture industry, requiring more irrigation for farmlands as well as increased transportation costs. Hotter temperatures will lead to higher utility usage and bills. The El Niño will mean more rain for Northern Europe and sub-Saharan Africa with drier seasons in the Amazon and on Australia.