Earth’s hot past suggests future climate change might be far more pronounced than expected, scientist say.
Experts warned that if carbon dioxide emissions continued at their present rate beyond the end of the century, atmospheric conditions would mirror those of 35 million years ago.
Temperatures then averaged around 31°C to 16°C higher than pre-industrial levels, they claimed.
Such a temperature rise would far outstrip current predictions of a 2°C to 4°C warming by the end of the century.