UN confirms 2015–2025 as hottest decade, warns of climate ‘emergency’

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has confirmed that the period from 2015 to 2025 was the hottest decade ever recorded, highlighting the intensifying pace of global warming.

According to the UN agency’s latest climate report, the 11 hottest years on record have all occurred between 2015 and 2025, underscoring a sustained and alarming warming trend.

The report noted that the amount of heat trapped within the Earth’s system reached record levels in 2025, with impacts expected to persist for thousands of years.

Global temperatures have surged significantly above pre-industrial levels, with 2024 recorded as the warmest year ever at around 1.55°C above the 1850–1900 baseline. Meanwhile, 2025 ranked among the top three hottest years globally.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the situation as a “climate emergency,” warning that the planet is being pushed beyond its limits. He stressed that repeated record-breaking temperatures are no longer random events but a clear signal of systemic climate change.

A major driver behind the trend is the sharp rise in greenhouse gas concentrations, which the WMO said are now at their highest levels in at least 800,000 years. This accumulation of heat-trapping gases has disrupted the Earth’s natural energy balance.

The report also flagged record ocean heat levels, with warming rates accelerating significantly in recent decades. Scientists warn that rising ocean temperatures contribute to sea-level rise, extreme weather, and long-term ecological damage.

The findings reinforce growing concerns that the world is approaching, and potentially exceeding, the 1.5°C warming threshold outlined in the Paris Agreement, increasing the risk of irreversible environmental consequences.

The WMO’s assessment adds urgency to global calls for stronger climate action, as governments face mounting pressure to reduce emissions and transition to cleaner energy systems.