The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned that Earth’s climate system is “flashing red”, indicating an unprecedented imbalance due to human-induced climate change. The findings are part of the State of the Global Climate Report (2025/2026), highlighting accelerating, widespread, and in some cases irreversible changes.
The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres termed the situation a “climate emergency”, emphasizing that the planet is being pushed beyond its limits.
Key Highlights of the Report
Temperature Trends
- 2015–2025: Identified as the 11 warmest years on record.
- 2025 global temperature: ~1.43°C above pre-industrial levels (1850–1900).
- 2024 remains the warmest year at ~1.55°C above pre-industrial levels.
- Despite La Niña cooling, temperatures remained extremely high.
- Possible return of El Niño may further raise global temperatures.
Earth’s Energy Imbalance (New Indicator)
- Introduced for the first time in the report.
- Refers to the gap between:
- Incoming solar radiation
- Outgoing heat from Earth
- Record high imbalance in 2025 (highest in at least 65 years).
- Caused by greenhouse gases trapping heat.
Distribution of Excess Heat: Oceans (91%), Land (5% ), Ice (melting) (3%), Atmosphere (1%)
Ocean Warming and Its Impacts
- Oceans absorbed over 90% of excess heat.
- 2025: Record ocean heat content (9th consecutive year of record warming).
- Warming rate (2005–2025) is more than double that of 1960–2005.
- 90% of ocean surface experienced marine heatwaves.
Consequences
- Rising sea levels
- Stronger tropical cyclones
- Marine ecosystem disruption
- Decline in fisheries and coral bleaching
- Ocean warming is irreversible for centuries to millennia, even with emission cuts.
Melting Ice & Sea Level Rise
- Ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica losing mass.
- Arctic sea ice among lowest levels recorded (2025).
- Sea level rise:
- +11 cm since 1993
- Rate increased from 2.65 mm/year (1993–2011) to 4.75 mm/year (2012–2025)
Risks
- Coastal flooding
- Saltwater intrusion
- Infrastructure damage
- Loss of ecosystems
- Threat to food & water security
Greenhouse Gas Concentrations
- Primary drivers: fossil fuels + deforestation
- CO₂ (2024): Highest in at least 2 million years
- Methane & Nitrous Oxide: Highest in 800,000 years
- Largest annual CO₂ rise since 1957 measurements began
Ocean Acidification
- Oceans absorbed ~29% of human CO₂ emissions (2015–2024).
- Surface pH at lowest in 26,000 years (as per Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change).
- Most affected regions:
- Indian Ocean
- Southern Ocean
- Pacific & Atlantic parts
Impact
- Harm to marine biodiversity
- Reduced shellfish production
- Threat to global food security
Extreme Weather Events (2025)
- Events: Heatwaves, droughts, floods, wildfires, cyclones
- Impact:
- Thousands of deaths
- Millions affected
- Billions in economic losses
- Example: California wildfires (2025) caused >$60 billion damage
Cascading Effects
- Food insecurity
- Water stress
- Public health risks
- Increased global instability
Impact on Health & Workforce
- 1.2 billion people (over one-third of global workforce) exposed to extreme heat annually.
- High-risk sectors: Agriculture, construction
- Effects:
- Reduced productivity
- Income losses
- Health risks
- Only ~50% countries had heat-health warning systems by 2023.
Climate Change & Global Instability
- Climate change contributing to: Migration, Hunger, Water scarcity
- 250 million people displaced due to weather disasters (past decade)
- Also linked to global conflicts and security risks
Link with Global Agreements
- Under the Paris Agreement: Limit warming to below 2°C and Preferably 1.5°C
- Current warming (~1.43°C) shows the world is close to breaching the safer limit.