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The United Nations has issued a grave and immediate warning concerning the fragile state of the global climate system. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Earth is currently enduring a climatic imbalance that exceeds any recorded in human history. The WMO explains that the planet is absorbing a significantly larger quantity of heat energy than it can release back into the cosmos. This critical situation is primarily driven by the relentless accumulation of warming gases, particularly carbon dioxide, which are released into the atmosphere through extensive human activities.
This unprecedented "energy imbalance" has precipitated severe consequences over the last year alone. The excess heat has pushed ocean temperatures to record-breaking highs and accelerated the melting of the planet's vast ice caps. Scientists are now deeply concerned that a natural warming phenomenon known as El Niño, which is expected to emerge later in 2026, could drive global temperatures to new, record-breaking levels. The gravity of this situation demands immediate attention and a coordinated global response to prevent catastrophic damage to the Earth's vital systems.
In response to this alarming report, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has renewed his urgent call for nations to rapidly transition away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy sources. He emphasized that this critical shift is essential not only for climate security but also for ensuring global energy stability and national safety. Speaking in a forceful video address, Guterres warned, "Planet Earth is being pushed beyond its limits. Every key climate indicator is flashing red." His words starkly highlight the severity of the crisis and the immediate necessity for collective action from all nations.
The data supporting this warning is undeniable. The WMO reports that the last eleven years have been the warmest on record, a span extending back to 1850. By 2025, global average air temperatures had risen approximately 1.43 degrees Celsius above "pre-industrial" levels. This baseline refers to the period before humans began burning large quantities of fossil fuels, which fundamentally altered the Earth's atmosphere and trapped heat that would otherwise have escaped into space.
A brief period of cooling caused by the natural La Niña weather pattern prevented 2025 from surpassing the record heat levels of 2024. The previous year, 2024, was significantly boosted by the opposite phase, El Niño, which naturally warms the planet. Despite this temporary cooling effect, 2025 remained one of the three warmest years since reliable record-keeping began. While many scientists believe that the rate of warming is accelerating, they note that current temperatures remain broadly within the range predicted by long-term climate models. This suggests that while the trend is deeply dangerous, our scientific understanding of the future trajectory remains accurate and robust.
The WMO points to a wealth of evidence demonstrating that the climate is changing at a pace faster than humanity has ever witnessed. Perhaps the most comprehensive measure of this shift is the total amount of extra heat energy being absorbed by the Earth. This "energy imbalance" is the fundamental driver of climate change and reached a new record high last year. The accumulation of this heat is a direct result of the greenhouse effect being intensified by human emissions.
While researchers continue to investigate the precise reasons for the Earth's accumulation of excess heat over the past decade, there is no scientific doubt that heat-trapping greenhouse gases are the root cause. Carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere have reached their highest point in at least two million years, a direct result of human activities like the burning of coal, oil, and natural gas. These activities release vast amounts of carbon that had been stored underground for millions of years, disrupting the natural carbon cycle that regulates the planet's temperature.
This trapped energy has multiple profound effects on the planet. Some of the heat warms the atmosphere and the land, while other portions melt the planet's ice sheets and glaciers. Provisional data indicates that the world's glaciers experienced one of their five worst years for melting during the 2024/25 period. Additionally, sea ice at both the North and South poles was at or near record lows for most of 2025. The loss of this reflective ice means the Earth absorbs even more heat, creating a dangerous feedback loop that exacerbates the warming trend.
However, the impact on the oceans is the most significant and far-reaching. More than 90% of the extra energy trapped by greenhouse gases is absorbed by the oceans. This excessive heating harms marine life, fuels more intense storms, and contributes significantly to rising sea levels. The heat stored in the upper 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) of the global ocean reached a new high last year. Over the past two decades, this region of the ocean has been warming more than twice as fast as it did during the late 20th century. This rapid warming threatens the stability of marine ecosystems and the complex food chains that depend on them for survival.
Professor Celeste Saulo, the secretary general of the WMO, stated, "Human activities are increasingly disrupting the natural equilibrium and we will live with these consequences for hundreds and thousands of years." This statement underscores the permanent and irreversible nature of the changes currently occurring. The report details how rising temperatures are currently intensifying extreme weather events and facilitating the spread of diseases, such as dengue fever. The disruption of natural patterns affects agriculture, water resources, and human health in unpredictable and often devastating ways.
For example, the south-western United States is currently experiencing a record-breaking early-season heatwave. Temperatures have recently exceeded 40 degrees Celsius in several areas, which is approximately 10 to 15 degrees Celsius above the historical average. A rapid analysis by scientists at the World Weather Attribution group concluded that the intensity of this heat would have been "virtually impossible" without the influence of human-caused climate change. Such events are becoming more frequent and more severe as the global climate continues to warm.
Researchers are also closely monitoring the Pacific Ocean, where long-term forecasts strongly suggest that a warming El Niño phase could form in the second half of 2026. El Niño is a natural cycle that periodically warms the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. However, this natural cycle is now superimposed on top of the ongoing human-caused warming trend. Scientists warn that the combination of these factors could push global temperatures to new heights by 2027. The interaction between natural variability and human-induced warming creates a compounding effect that accelerates the rise in temperature.
Dr. John Kennedy of the WMO explained the gravity of this situation: "If we transition to El Niño we will see an increase in global temperature again, and potentially to new records." This forecast suggests that the natural climate variability will add immense pressure to an already stressed system. The interaction between human emissions and natural cycles creates a dangerous feedback loop that accelerates warming. If global temperatures rise further, the consequences for agriculture, infrastructure, and human settlements could be catastrophic.
The path forward requires a rapid and coordinated global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The window for effective action is narrowing, but the report emphasizes that every fraction of a degree of warming matters. By transitioning to renewable energy and protecting natural ecosystems, humanity can still mitigate the worst effects of climate change. However, the current trajectory suggests that without immediate intervention, the planet will face even more extreme challenges in the coming decades. The warning from the United Nations is clear: the time for decisive action is now.
The scientific community agrees that the cost of inaction far outweighs the cost of the transition to a sustainable energy system. The evidence indicates that the Earth's climate system is not merely fluctuating; it is being fundamentally altered by the accumulation of heat. This shift affects every aspect of life on the planet, from the stability of polar ice sheets to the frequency of heatwaves in temperate zones. The data from 2025 confirms that the momentum of warming is continuing, and the potential for a record-breaking year driven by the onset of El Niño in 2026 is high.
Global cooperation remains the only viable solution to this existential threat. The WMO report serves as a call to unify efforts across borders to limit emissions and adapt to the changes that are already inevitable. While the challenges are immense, the scientific consensus is clear: we have the knowledge and the technology to address this crisis. The decision to act, or to fail, rests entirely on the collective will of the international community. The time for hesitation has passed; the era of implementation must begin immediately to secure a habitable future for generations to come.