Last year was Earth’s warmest on record, bolstering the argument that humans are altering the planet’s climate by burning greenhouse gas-emitting fuels, according to a pair of analyses by two major US agencies.

Last year was Earth’s warmest on record, bolstering the argument that humans are altering the planet’s climate by burning greenhouse gas-emitting fuels, according to a pair of analyses by two major US agencies.

THIS year could become one of the top 10 hottest since 1850, with global temperatures expected to be almost half a degree celsius warmer in 2012 than the long-term (1961-1990)average of 14 degrees, the British Met Office said.

Charles J Hanley reports from New York on the troubling signs of climate change and efforts to cope