Donald Asha

The World Meteorological Organization has warned that accelerating greenhouse gas emissions are pushing the planet toward increasingly dangerous climate conditions, with long-term consequences for economies, ecosystems and human livelihoods.

Ad >>>

In its latest assessment, the UN weather agency said the Earth’s climate system is now “more out of balance than at any time in observed history,” underscoring the growing gap between incoming solar energy and heat escaping back into space.

According to WMO Deputy Executive Secretary Ko Barrett, the period between 2015 and 2025 represents the hottest decade on record, with each of the past 11 years ranking among the warmest ever observed. Global temperatures last year were approximately 1.43°C above pre-industrial levels, based on the 1850–1900 baseline, while ocean heat content also reached a new high.

The data points to a climate system under sustained stress. Rising concentrations of key greenhouse gases — including carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide — reached record levels in 2024, marking the largest annual increase on record. Preliminary data suggests this upward trend has continued into 2025.

WMO scientists say these emissions are altering the planet’s energy balance. Under normal conditions, the Earth radiates roughly the same amount of energy back into space as it receives from the sun. However, increased greenhouse gas concentrations are trapping more heat in the atmosphere, leading to a build-up of excess energy.

John Kennedy, a scientific officer at the WMO, said this growing energy imbalance is a key driver of accelerating climate change. “More energy coming in than going out means that energy is accumulating in the Earth’s system,” he explained.

The majority of this excess heat — around 90% — is being absorbed by the oceans, contributing to rising sea levels through thermal expansion and accelerating the melting of land-based ice. Glaciers continue to retreat, while polar ice loss is adding further pressure to coastal systems.

The implications are significant. More than three billion people depend on marine and coastal ecosystems for their livelihoods, while nearly 11% of the global population lives in low-lying coastal areas vulnerable to flooding and extreme weather events.

Beyond environmental risks, the findings carry growing economic implications. Rising temperatures and sea levels threaten infrastructure, disrupt supply chains, and increase the cost of adaptation, particularly for developing economies with limited resilience.

Despite the severity of the outlook, WMO officials stress that improved forecasting and early warning systems remain critical tools for mitigating impact. Expanding access to these systems, especially in vulnerable regions, could help reduce loss of life and economic damage as climate risks intensify.

The latest assessment reinforces a broader trend seen over the past three decades of WMO monitoring: climate change is not only continuing, but accelerating, with greenhouse gas emissions remaining the central driver.