The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned that 2025 is on track to become one of the hottest years ever recorded, continuing a worrying pattern of rising global temperatures and intensifying climate-related disasters. The assessment was released during the ‘State of the Global Climate Update’ presentation at the COP30 climate conference in Belém, Brazil.
According to the WMO, global average near-surface temperatures from January to August 2025 were substantially higher than pre-industrial levels. This trend signals mounting pressure on international efforts to limit warming under the Paris Agreement, which aims to restrict global temperature rise to well below 2°C, ideally 1.5°C.
Scientists attribute the record heat to a combination of persistent greenhouse gas emissions, reduced atmospheric aerosols, and the influence of the El Niño climate pattern. The report also notes accelerated melting of sea ice in the Arctic and Antarctic, contributing to rising sea levels and altering global climate systems.
The last three years have shown a consistent escalation in climate extremes. Heatwaves, wildfires, glacier retreat, intense rainfall, and prolonged droughts have impacted food security, health systems, and economic stability in multiple regions. These events have increased pressure on global leaders to strengthen adaptation and mitigation strategies.
Climate experts and policymakers at COP30 emphasized the need for coordinated international action, increased funding for vulnerable nations, and rapid transition to renewable energy systems. Without stronger measures, the WMO warns that current warming trends could push the planet beyond critical climate thresholds, affecting ecosystems and communities worldwide.