2016 hottest year ever recorded – and scientists say human activity to blame

" Final data confirms record-breaking temperatures for third year in a row

" Earth has not been this warm for 115,000 years

2016 was the hottest year on record, setting a new high for the third year in a row, with scientists firmly putting the blame on human activities that drive climate change.

The final data for 2016 was released on Wednesday by the three key agencies - the UK Met Office and Nasa and Noaa in the US - and showed 16 of the 17 hottest years on record have been this century.