The world has passed another global-warming milestone, according to new figures showing that temperatures rose to their hottest on record for the third year in a row in 2016. Global surface temperatures were nearly 1C warmer in 2016 than the mid-20th century average said scientists from Nasa and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the US. Pending Senate approval, the agencies could soon be overseen by new cabinet secretaries appointed by incoming US president, Donald Trump, who has called global warming a hoax invented by China to hurt US industry. The hottest year on record is such a clear warning siren that even president-elect Trump cannot ignore [it]. The idea of a pause or a hiatus in global warming must now be abandoned Mark Maslin, UCL But Mr Trump’s choice to head the US Environmental Protection Agency, Scott Pruitt, told his confirmation hearing on Wednesday that climate change was real, breaking with both the president-elect’s and his own past statements. Scientists said there was no doubt the world was warming, largely because of the greenhouse gases released by burning fossil fuels and other human activities.