UN Climate Report Warns of Unprecedented Global Warming

Experts say Earth's climate has moved beyond natural balance due to human activities

Mar. 25, 2026 at 6:44pm

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The latest report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) paints a dire picture of the state of the planet, with the climate system losing its natural balance at an unprecedented rate. Between 2015 and 2025, 11 of the hottest years on record occurred, pushing global temperatures 1.43°C above pre-industrial levels and dangerously close to the 1.5°C threshold. Scientists say the rate of warming has accelerated sharply, with the planet trapping heat faster than it can shed it, primarily due to human-caused greenhouse gas emissions.

Why it matters

The climate crisis is no longer a future threat, but a present reality that is disrupting natural systems, increasing extreme weather events, and posing grave risks to human health, food security, and economic stability around the world. This report from the UN underscores the urgent need for immediate, coordinated global action to address the climate emergency.

The details

The WMO report found that the Earth's energy imbalance, which measures the difference between the amount of energy the planet absorbs from the sun and the amount it radiates back into space, is at an unprecedented level. This imbalance is primarily caused by human activities like the burning of fossil fuels, which release large volumes of greenhouse gases that trap heat in the atmosphere. The excess heat is being absorbed by the oceans, leading to marine heatwaves, melting ice, and rising sea levels. These climate impacts are then amplifying other extreme weather events like heatwaves, droughts, floods, and wildfires, causing tens of billions in economic losses.

  • Between 2015 and 2025, the 11 hottest years on record occurred.
  • In 2025, the Earth's average temperature was approximately 1.43°C higher than pre-industrial levels.
  • The rate of global warming accelerated from 0.2°C per decade in the previous decade to 0.35°C per decade between 2015 and 2025.

The players

World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

The United Nations agency responsible for monitoring and reporting on the state of the global climate.

Antonio Guterres

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, who has emphasized the urgency of addressing the climate crisis.

Celeste Saulo

The Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization, who warned that human activities are disrupting the natural equilibrium of the climate system.

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What they’re saying

“Humanity has just endured the eleven hottest years on record. When history repeats itself eleven times, it is no longer a coincidence. It is a call to act.”

— Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General

“Our planet is trapping heat faster than it can shed it.”

— Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General

“Human activities are increasingly disrupting the natural equilibrium, and we will live with these consequences for hundreds and thousands of years.”

— Celeste Saulo, WMO Secretary-General

What’s next

The UN and its member states are expected to convene a major climate summit in 2027 to assess progress on global emissions reduction targets and discuss further actions to mitigate the climate crisis.

The takeaway

This UN climate report serves as a stark wake-up call that the world is running out of time to address the climate emergency. Urgent, coordinated global action is needed to rapidly transition away from fossil fuels, protect vulnerable communities, and build climate resilience in order to avert the most catastrophic impacts of climate change.