WMO’s ‘State of the Global Climate Report 2025’: A Looming Threat to the Climate System

On March 23, on the occasion of World Meteorological Day, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released its highly anticipated ‘State of the Global Climate Report 2025’. Highlighting the dire state of the global climate, the report warns that the Earth's climate system has reached a state of emergency due to unprecedented warming and energy imbalance.

About the Report

¨   The State of the Global Climate is an annual flagship report of WMO that provides an authoritative assessment of the global climate system.

¨     It compiles scientific inputs from National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, WMO Regional Climate Centres, UN agencies, international data centres, and climate experts.

¨     The report updates key climate indicators such as temperature, greenhouse gases, ocean heat, sea level, and cryosphere changes.

¨     It also documents major extreme weather events and their socio-economic impacts, including effects on health, food security, and displacement.

¨     The 2025 edition introduces Earth’s Energy Imbalance as a key indicator, reflecting advances in climate science and monitoring.

Key Findings of the Report

¨     Record-Breaking Warming Trends: The period 2015–2025 constitutes the 11 hottest years on record. 2025 was among the top three warmest years, about 1.43°C above pre-industrial (1850–1900) levels. Warming persists despite cooling influences like La Niña, indicating strong long-term warming trends.

¨     Rising Greenhouse Gas Concentrations: Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are ~50% higher than pre-industrial levels. CO₂, methane, and nitrous oxide have reached their highest levels in at least 800,000 years. Continued fossil fuel use and weakening natural carbon sinks are driving record emissions.

¨     Earth’s Energy Imbalance at Record High: For the first time, the report highlights Earth’s Energy Imbalance as a core indicator. It measures the difference between incoming solar energy and outgoing heat. This imbalance is now the highest in a 65-year record, showing that excess heat is accumulating in the Earth system.

¨     Oceans (Major Heat and Carbon Sink): Oceans absorb over 90% of excess heat and act as a climate buffer. Ocean heat content reached a record high in 2025, with warming rates doubling since 2005. Oceans have absorbed energy equivalent to ~18 times annual human energy use each year for two decades.

¨     Increased CO₂ absorption is causing ocean acidification, threatening marine ecosystems.

¨     Accelerating Sea-Level Rise: Global mean sea level is now ~11 cm higher than in 1993. The rate of sea-level rise has accelerated in recent years, driven by ocean warming and ice melt. This leads to coastal flooding, ecosystem damage, and groundwater salinization.

¨     Cryosphere Under Severe Stress: Arctic Sea ice is at or near record lows, while Antarctic Sea ice is among the lowest recorded. Glacier mass loss is accelerating, with some of the worst losses occurring in recent years. Ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica continue to lose mass, contributing to sea-level rise.

¨     Intensification of Extreme Weather Events: Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme events such as heatwaves, heavy rainfall and floods, tropical cyclones and storms and wildfires, and droughts.These events caused thousands of deaths, affected millions, and led to billions in economic losses. They also expose the vulnerability of interconnected global economies.

¨     Climate Impacts on Society, Health, and Economy: Climate change is adversely affecting livelihoods, ecosystems, and health systems by increasing risks of vector- and water-borne diseases, mental stress, and widespread heat exposure, with over one-third of the global workforce facing heat-related productivity losses.

¨     Food Security, Displacement, and Systemic Risks: Extreme weather events are triggering cascading impacts on agriculture, food security, and migration, leading to large-scale displacement and heightened vulnerability, especially in fragile and conflict-affected regions.

¨     Long-Term and Irreversible Changes: Many climate impacts, particularly ocean warming, sea-level rise, and acidification, are irreversible over centuries to millennia, locking in long-term consequences for the planet.

¨    Urgent Need for Climate Action: The report highlights the urgent need for rapid emission reductions, transition away from fossil fuels, and achievement of net-zero targets to prevent further escalation of climate risks.