Global warming pause a distraction: study

A hiatus in global warming is purely a distraction and won't affect long-term temperature rises, new research shows.

Climate scientist Matthew England found the 10-15 year pause would only account for 0.1 degree Celsius difference in temperature rises, a small chunk of the five degrees expected by 2100 if nothing is done about carbon emissions.

"It's like a cold front that comes through during summer. It doesn't end the summer," he told ABC radio on Friday, adding the pause was nothing but a "ridiculous distraction".