WMO Reports Record Climate Imbalance and Rising Global Temperatures

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has released its 2025 State of the Global Climate report, revealing that the Earth's climate is more out of balance than at any time in observed history. This imbalance is primarily driven by record-high concentrations of greenhouse gases, leading to continued warming of the atmosphere and oceans, as well as accelerated ice melt.

The report indicates that the period from 2015 to 2025 comprises the warmest 11 years on record. In 2025, the global mean near-surface temperature was approximately 1.43°C above the 1850–1900 pre-industrial average, making it the second or third warmest year in the 176-year observational record. This warming trend is attributed to increased levels of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, which have reached their highest concentrations in at least 800,000 years.

Ocean heat content reached a new record high in 2025, with the rate of warming more than doubling from 1960–2005 to 2005–2025. More than 91% of the excess heat is stored in the ocean, acting as a major buffer against higher temperatures on land. Additionally, the annual average Arctic sea-ice extent for 2025 was among the lowest on record, and exceptional glacier mass loss occurred in regions such as Iceland and along the Pacific coast of North America.

The report also highlights the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. In 2025, heatwaves, wildfires, droughts, tropical cyclones, storms, and flooding caused thousands of deaths, impacted millions of people, and resulted in billions of dollars in economic losses. These rapid and large-scale changes, occurring within a few decades, are expected to have harmful repercussions for hundreds—and potentially thousands—of years.

WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo emphasized the urgency of addressing these issues, stating that human activities are increasingly disrupting the natural equilibrium, and the consequences will persist for generations. The report underscores the need for immediate and sustained efforts to mitigate climate change and adapt to its impacts.