2025 Confirmed as Among Hottest Years on Record, Climate Report Warns

Geneva, Switzerland – The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released its State of the Global Climate 2025 report today, March 23, 2026, confirming that the period from 2015-2025 was the hottest 11-year stretch on record. The report also indicates that 2025 ranked as the second or third warmest year globally, with temperatures approximately 1.43°C above the 1850-1900 average.

Key Findings of the Report

• Record Heat: The past eleven years (2015-2025) represent the warmest period ever recorded.
• 2025 Temperature: 2025 was the second or third warmest year on record.
• Energy Imbalance: For the first time, the report includes data on the Earth’s energy imbalance, revealing the rate at which energy enters and leaves the Earth system.
• Ocean Warming: The ocean continues to absorb significant amounts of heat and carbon dioxide, absorbing approximately eighteen times the annual human energy use each year for the past two decades.
• Ice Loss: Arctic sea ice extent was at or near a record low, although Antarctic sea ice extent was the third lowest on record. Glacier melt continues at an unabated rate.
• Extreme Weather: Extreme weather events, including intense heat, heavy rainfall, and tropical cyclones, caused widespread disruption and devastation.

Earth’s Energy Imbalance

The report highlights a concerning trend: the Earth’s energy imbalance. Under stable climate conditions, incoming solar energy roughly equals outgoing heat. Although, increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases – carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide – have disrupted this equilibrium, leading to a buildup of energy within the Earth system. Greenhouse gas concentrations are at their highest level in at least 800,000 years. WMO State of the Global Climate 2025

Impacts and Vulnerabilities

The WMO report underscores the vulnerability of interconnected economies and societies to the impacts of climate change. Extreme weather events are causing billions of dollars in damage and impacting millions of people worldwide. ReliefWeb: State of the Global Climate 2025

UN Secretary-General’s Statement

“The State of the Global Climate is in a state of emergency. Planet Earth is being pushed beyond its limits,” stated UN Secretary-General António Guterres, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. UN News

World Meteorological Day

The release of the report coincides with World Meteorological Day, observed annually on March 23rd, with the theme of observing today to protect tomorrow.

Looking Ahead

The State of the Global Climate 2025 serves as a stark reminder of the accelerating pace of climate change and the urgent need for global action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience to the impacts of a changing climate. Continued monitoring and assessment of key climate indicators are crucial for informing effective mitigation and adaptation strategies.