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World temperatures rose faster in the late 20th century than at any other time in the last 2,000 years, according to a study released on 24 July 2019. Climate variability the fluctuation of surface temperatures over time has long been the subject of debate. While average global temperatures are currently around 1°C hotter than pre-industrial times, there have been a number of periods of cooling and warming over the centuries. This had led sceptics of manmade global warming to suggest that human activity is not the main driver of climate change.