The hottest decade ever—in a bad way

The decade just ending was the warmest one on record, says the World Meteorological Organization: warmer than the 1990s, which was warmer than the 1980s. Moreover, 2009 was the fifth hottest year. Now, some hope that this news— Tuesday— will quell new anxiety about the scientific evidence behind global warming. Still, it’s unlikely that this will make things any easier for the politicians who have gathered in Copenhagen.

New York Times