Scientists from the United Nations are warning that the Earth is getting hotter faster than before, and things could get even warmer soon.
What is happening to the planet?
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a UN agency, says the Earth is now holding more heat than it can release.
This is called an “energy imbalance.” It is mainly caused by gases like carbon dioxide from burning fuels such as coal, oil, and gas.
This extra heat is warming the oceans, melting ice at the poles and raising global temperatures.
Record breaking temperatures
Scientists say the last 11 years have been the 11 warmest years since records began in 1850.
In 2025, global temperatures were about 1.43°C higher than before humans started using large amounts of fossil fuels.
Even though a cooling pattern called La Niña made 2025 slightly cooler than 2024, it was still one of the three hottest years ever recorded.
Did You Know?
The world’s glaciers had one of their five worst years on record in 2024 and 2025.
Sea ice at both the North and South Poles was also at or near record lows for most of 2025.
Where is the extra heat going?
More than 90% of the extra heat is being absorbed by the oceans.
The rest is spread across:
- land: about 5%
- Ice: about 3%
- Atmosphere: about 1%
This is causing stronger storms, rising sea levels and harm to marine life.
Scientists also say the top 2 km of the ocean is now hotter than ever, and it has been warming more than twice as fast as before.
What is El Niño?
El Niño is a natural warming pattern in the Pacific Ocean.
Scientists think it could return in the second half of 2026. When it happens, it usually makes global temperatures even higher.
This means temperatures could rise even more, possibly setting new records by 2027.
Why are scientists concerned?
Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are now the highest they have been in at least two million years.
UN Secretary General António Guterres warned that “every key climate indicator is flashing red.”
Scientists also say climate change is making extreme weather worse. For example, parts of the United States recently experienced temperatures above 40°C, which is about 10 to 15°C higher than normal.
What does this mean for the future?
Experts say human activities are changing the planet in ways that could last for hundreds or even thousands of years.
They are calling on countries to move towards cleaner energy sources like wind and solar power to reduce the damage.
