COPENHAGEN, DENMARK - The first decade of the 21st century is set to be the warmest on record, the head of the World Meteorological Organisation said at the UN climate talks Tuesday.

"The decade 2000-2009 is very likely to be the warmest on record, warmer than the 1990s, which were in turn warmer than the 1980s," WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud said at a press conference.

Jarraud also said that the year 2009 would probably rank as the fifth warmest since the beginning of accurate instrumental climate records in 1850. --AFP