The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned that greenhouse gas concentrations in Earth’s atmosphere have reached all-time highs, driving record-breaking temperatures on both land and sea, with long-lasting consequences for humanity. The UN agency emphasized that the planet’s climate is “more out of balance than at any time in observed history,” highlighting the unprecedented warming trends of the past decade. Between 2015 and 2025, the Earth experienced its hottest 11 years on record, with 2025 alone registering 1.43°C above the 1850–1900 baseline and setting a new ocean heat record.
The impacts of this warming are evident in the ongoing retreat of glaciers and the melting of land-based ice, which contribute to long-term rises in global sea levels. WMO stressed the urgent need for lifesaving forecasts and early warnings to help vulnerable populations mitigate the devastating effects of climate disruption. For over 30 years, the agency has issued annual climate updates, and the accelerating warming trends documented over the past decade have raised growing concern among scientists and policymakers.
Data collected globally show that atmospheric concentrations of key greenhouse gases—carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide—reached record levels in 2024, marking the largest year-on-year increase recorded. Observations indicate that these levels continued to rise in 2025, creating an imbalance in Earth’s energy system. Normally, incoming solar energy is roughly equal to outgoing energy, but increased greenhouse gas concentrations are trapping more energy in the climate system, accelerating global warming.
WMO has begun tracking Earth’s energy imbalance as a critical indicator, showing a notable increase in the rate of warming between 2001 and 2025. Approximately 90 percent of the excess energy is absorbed by the oceans, posing direct threats to the over three billion people who rely on marine and coastal resources for their livelihoods. Nearly 11 percent of the global population lives on low-lying coasts, making them highly vulnerable to the escalating hazards caused by rising seas and ocean warming.
