Earth’s Climate Out of Balance, Warns WMO Report

March 23, 2026

Geneva, March 23, 2026: The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned that Earth’s climate is becoming increasingly unstable, with key indicators showing the planet is moving further out of balance due to human-driven climate change.

Hottest Years and Rising Temperatures

According to the WMO’s latest State of the Global Climate report, the period from 2015 to 2025 marks the 11 hottest years on record. Global temperatures in 2025 were about 1.43°C above pre-industrial levels, highlighting a persistent warming trend.

Record Energy Imbalance Alarms Scientists

For the first time, the report highlights Earth’s energy imbalance as a critical climate indicator. This imbalance occurs when more heat enters the planet than leaves it, largely due to greenhouse gases. The WMO noted that this imbalance is now at its highest level in recorded history, with the oceans absorbing most of the excess heat equivalent to nearly 18 times the world’s annual energy use.

Oceans, Ice, and Extreme Weather Under Stress

The report points to alarming changes across the planet:

• Oceans have recorded unprecedented warming levels
• Arctic and Antarctic sea ice are near record lows
• Glaciers continue to melt at accelerating rates
• Extreme weather events heatwaves, floods, and cyclones are intensifying

These changes are already causing widespread disruption, affecting economies, ecosystems, and millions of lives globally.

Greenhouse Gases Driving the Crisis

The WMO attributes the growing imbalance to record concentrations of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide now at their highest levels in at least 800,000 years.

‘Planet Being Pushed Beyond Limits’

UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the situation as a global emergency, warning that “every key climate indicator is flashing red.” Experts stress that without urgent action to reduce emissions, the impacts of climate change could last for centuries or even millennia.