Abnormally high temperatures continue to raise concerns: according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the year 2025 could rank second or third among the warmest years in the 176-year observation period.
The updated WMO report on the state of the climate emphasizes that the last 11 years, starting from 2015, have been the hottest on record. In particular, the average temperature from January to August 2025 was 1.42 ± 0.12 °C higher than in the pre-industrial era.
The situation is exacerbated by record levels of greenhouse gases and rising ocean warmth observed in 2024. The area of sea ice in the Arctic reached a historic low after winter freezes, while its extent in Antarctica is significantly below normal. The global ocean continues to rise, although short-term fluctuations occur due to natural factors.
In August 2025, extreme weather conditions, including destructive rains, floods, intense heat, and wildfires, had a serious impact on people and the economies of countries, causing migration and threatening sustainable development.
“This unprecedented wave of high temperatures and record greenhouse gas emissions shows that it will be virtually impossible to avoid exceeding the 1.5 °C threshold in the coming years. However, science indicates that with decisive action, we can still keep warming at this level by the end of the century,” noted WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres added at the Climate Summit in Belém: “Every year exceeding 1.5 °C increases inequality and causes economic and environmental damage. We must act swiftly and at scale to make this exceedance temporary and safe.”
The updated WMO report was presented at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP-30) in Belém, Brazil, and includes key climate indicators, trends, and an assessment of support measures for countries in forecasting and adaptation.
According to the organization, the number of countries with early warning systems for various hazardous phenomena increased from 56 in 2015 to 119 in 2024. However, in 40% of countries, such systems are still absent.
National meteorological and hydrological services are becoming increasingly important in climate policy, including areas such as agriculture, energy, health, and water resource management. Nearly two-thirds of countries already offer climate services, while five years ago this figure was only 35%.
The WMO emphasizes that considering the impact of climate factors on the development of renewable energy, it is especially important to forecast and account for them in order to create reliable and resilient clean energy systems.
