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As U.N. Climate Negotiations Begin, Report Warns That Warming Is Gaining Pace
The World Meteorological Organization says Earth is accumulating heat at an accelerating rate, as COP31 climate negotiations begin in Antalya, Turkey. Its update warns that the growing energy imbalance is likely to intensify extreme weather, while 2026 is on track to rank among the four warmest years recorded.
From January to September, global surface temperatures averaged about 1.47°C above the pre-industrial level. The energy imbalance increased at 0.3 watts per square metre per decade from 2001 to 2025, compared with 0.13 over 1960 to 2025; carbon dioxide reached 426.8 parts per million in 2025, up 53 per cent since 1750. Ocean heat and sea levels reached records, while glaciers lost more than 400 gigatons of mass.
In short
- Earth’s heat imbalance is growing faster.
- 2026 may be among the four warmest years recorded.
- Ocean heat, sea levels and glacier loss underline the trend.
Climate Geopolitics Politics Science