The Earth's climate is further out of balance than at any time in recorded history, the UN's weather agency has warned.
The World Meteorological Organization says that our planet is gaining much more heat energy than it can release, driven by emissions of warming gases such as carbon dioxide. This record energy imbalance heated the ocean to new heights last year and continued to melt our planet's ice caps. Scientists fear that a natural warming phase called El Niño – expected to begin later this year – could soon bring further heat records.
In response to the report, UN Secretary General António Guterres reiterated his call for countries to move away from fossil fuels to renewable energy to deliver climate security, energy security and national security. Planet Earth is being pushed beyond its limits. Every key climate indicator is flashing red, he warned, in a typically punchy video address. The last 11 years were the Earth's 11 warmest years in records stretching back to 1850, according to the WMO.
In 2025, global average air temperatures were about 1.43C above those of pre-industrial times - before humans started burning large amounts of fossil fuels. A temporary cooling from the natural La Niña weather pattern meant that 2025 was not quite as hot as 2024, which was boosted by the opposite El Niño phase. But last year was still one of the three warmest years since records began. Many scientists now believe that warming is accelerating, although they say temperatures are broadly consistent with long-term predictions.
The WMO emphasizes that climate change is progressing faster than ever, driven by an alarming level of extra heat energy accumulated in the Earth's system. The report indicates that human activities are increasingly disrupting the natural equilibrium, with the consequences expected to linger for generations.
The Pacific Ocean is being monitored closely for signs of an El Niño phase, with forecasts suggesting a formation could contribute to new temperature records into 2027.
The World Meteorological Organization says that our planet is gaining much more heat energy than it can release, driven by emissions of warming gases such as carbon dioxide. This record energy imbalance heated the ocean to new heights last year and continued to melt our planet's ice caps. Scientists fear that a natural warming phase called El Niño – expected to begin later this year – could soon bring further heat records.
In response to the report, UN Secretary General António Guterres reiterated his call for countries to move away from fossil fuels to renewable energy to deliver climate security, energy security and national security. Planet Earth is being pushed beyond its limits. Every key climate indicator is flashing red, he warned, in a typically punchy video address. The last 11 years were the Earth's 11 warmest years in records stretching back to 1850, according to the WMO.
In 2025, global average air temperatures were about 1.43C above those of pre-industrial times - before humans started burning large amounts of fossil fuels. A temporary cooling from the natural La Niña weather pattern meant that 2025 was not quite as hot as 2024, which was boosted by the opposite El Niño phase. But last year was still one of the three warmest years since records began. Many scientists now believe that warming is accelerating, although they say temperatures are broadly consistent with long-term predictions.
The WMO emphasizes that climate change is progressing faster than ever, driven by an alarming level of extra heat energy accumulated in the Earth's system. The report indicates that human activities are increasingly disrupting the natural equilibrium, with the consequences expected to linger for generations.
The Pacific Ocean is being monitored closely for signs of an El Niño phase, with forecasts suggesting a formation could contribute to new temperature records into 2027.
