Misery and mayhem lie ahead of us as global warming tightens its malicious grip

_{Sai Kung seafront after typhoon Mangkhut hit in September 2018}

Because of global warming, we face increasing heatwaves, more floods, droughts, wild fires and fiercer typhoons, causing misery and mayhem, according to the World Meteorological Organisation. Last year was the warmest on record and as this trend continues, we will all face the consequences. “Sirens are blaring across all major indicators . . . some records are chart-topping, they’re chart-busting,” said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Ahead of us are higher greenhouse gas levels, greater surface temperatures, ocean heat and acidification, sea level rises, shrunken Antarctic ice and glacier retreat.

Come closer to home. What is the Hong Kong Observatory saying? All this means increased very hot days and nights, a reduction in cold days, temperatures generally up, heavy rainfall more frequent, greater typhoon intensity, rising sea levels and increased storm surge risk.

The HKO reports:

• The annual average temperature has risen at 0.3 per cent per decade in recent years
• The sea level in Victoria Harbour has increased 31mm per decade
• The sea surface temperature is up 0.18 degrees Celsius per decade
• Annual rainfall has risen at a rate of 2.3mm a year

Confession. I used to be a man-made climate change sceptic, arguing the climate has always changed and always will under the influence mainly of the cycles of the sun. The Observatory says this is true — citing other factors too such as volcanic activity — but man-made greenhouse emissions have speeded it all up. After the house in Sai Kung we have lived in for 20 years was suddenly flooded for the first time a few months ago, I am no longer a climate change sceptic.