in the western venezuelan state of merida following intense rains that have triggered mudslides and caused rivers to overflow. more than 12—hundred houses have been destroyed and 17 people remain missing, as rescue workers continue to search the affected areas. the merida state governor has admitted that neither the state nor municipal governments have the resources to help the affected areas. according to a new climate report, last year was the warmest on record across europe. temperatures across the region were more than 1.9 degrees celcius above the long—term average between 1981 and 2010. the state of the climate 2020 report from the american meteorological society says temperatures in the arctic are also rising rapidly, with land temperatures over land — the highest since records began in 1900. well for more on this, i'm joined now by professor will steffen, a climate change expert and researcher, from the climate council of australia.