Washington, October 18 (RHC)-- In news of global warming, a new analysis by top climate scientists finds the Earth's average temperature is on track to increase by 2 degrees Celsius -- or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit -- by mid-century, unless governments take dramatic steps to limit greenhouse gas emissions. 

The study finds that current pledges to combat climate change under a U.N. agreement crafted in Paris last December fall far short of preventing a temperature rise of 1.5 degrees Celsius, one of the agreement's goals. 

The new study was led by the U.N.'s former top climate scientist, Robert Watson, who said governments need to double or triple their efforts to meet the Paris target. 

Meanwhile, the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii reports atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have topped 400 parts per million throughout 2016 and are unlikely to fall below that level for the foreseeable future.  That's far above the 350 parts per million considered by many climate scientists to be the safe limit.