UN warns of worsening climate imbalance as global warming accelerates

The World Meteorological Organization has warned that the Earth’s climate system is becoming increasingly unstable, driven by record levels of greenhouse gases and rising global temperatures.

The UN agency said the planet is now “more out of balance than at any time in recorded history,” following an exceptionally hot decade. Between 2015 and 2025, the world experienced its 11 warmest years on record, with 2025 registering around 1.43°C above pre-industrial levels.

According to WMO officials, continued warming is accelerating glacier melt and contributing to rising sea levels, as both oceans and land-based ice respond to increasing temperatures.

The agency also reported that concentrations of key greenhouse gases — including carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide — reached record highs in 2024, with further increases observed in 2025. These gases are disrupting the Earth’s energy balance by trapping more heat within the atmosphere.

Experts explained that the planet is currently absorbing more energy from the sun than it is releasing back into space, leading to a growing energy imbalance. This excess heat is largely stored in the oceans, which absorb about 90% of it.

The WMO noted that this trend is particularly concerning for vulnerable populations, especially those living in coastal areas. More than three billion people depend on marine and coastal ecosystems, while around 11% of the global population lives in low-lying regions at risk from rising sea levels and climate-related hazards.

The agency called for stronger efforts to improve early warning systems and climate resilience measures to protect lives and livelihoods worldwide.