On April 3, China Meteorological Administration (CMA) issued the Blue Paper of Climate Change 2019 in China (hereafter referred to as the Blue Paper). Integrated observation of the climate system and multiple key indicators have showcased that the warming trend of the climate system is persisting. Extreme weather and climate events in China are more frequent and intense, with a rising climate risk level.

According to the latest information released by World Meteorological Organization (WMO), global average temperature in 2018 is 0.38℃ higher than the average from 1981 to 2010, about 1℃ higher than the pre-industrial level. The past five years (2014-2018) have been the warmest five ones since the existence of complete meteorological observation records.

The Blue Paper pointed out that land surface average temperature in Asia in 2018 registered 0.58℃ higher than that of normal years, the fifth warmest year since 1901. From 1901 to 2018, land surface annual average temperature in China was on the uptick. From 1951 to 2018, annual average temperature in China increased by 0.24℃ every 10 year, with the warming rate remarkably higher than the global average level in the same period.

The Blue Paper also covers myriad contents like annual average precipitation, average wind speed, hours of sunlight, extreme heavy rainfall events in China as well as global average sea surface temperature.

From 1961 to 2018, annual average precipitation in China is on weak increase, with noticeable regional discrepancies in terms of precipitation change trend. Averae wind speed and hours of sunlight are dropping as well. Since the mid-1990s extreme heavy rainfall events have dramatically mounted.

From 1870 to 2018, global average sea surface temperature is on conspicuous rise. From 1980 to 2017, sea level in coastal regions of China is on wavelike increase.

This Blue Paper aims to serve the demand of low-carbon, green and sustainable development, promote response to climate change, disaster preparedness and ecological civilisation construction, provide latest monitoring information on China, Asia and global climate change, and mirror the fundamental fact of climate change in a science-based and objective manner. (Apri. 9)

Reporter: Wan Xia, Li Wei, Wang Deyi

Editor: Liu Shuqiao