Earth “pushed beyond limits” as climate crisis intensifies: UN report

The planet is being pushed “beyond its limits” as rising greenhouse gas concentrations continue to heat the atmosphere, warm oceans and melt ice, the United Nations has warned, citing alarming findings from a new global climate assessment.

In its latest State of the Global Climate report, the World Meteorological Organization said Earth’s climate system is now more out of balance than at any point in recorded history, with rapid changes unfolding over decades but consequences likely to last centuries—or longer.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the trend leaves no room for doubt. “When history repeats itself eleven times, it is no longer a coincidence. It is a call to act,” he said, referring to the past 11 years (2015–2025), now confirmed as the hottest on record.

Record heat and accelerating warming

According to the report, 2024 ranked as the hottest year ever recorded, followed closely by 2023 and 2025. The consistent rise in global temperatures reflects the growing impact of human-driven greenhouse gas emissions.

Recent research cited in the report also suggests that global warming is accelerating. The Earth warmed by around 0.35°C in the decade to 2025—significantly faster than the average rate of less than 0.2°C per decade between 1970 and 2015.

Extreme weather on the rise

Rising temperatures are intensifying extreme weather events across the globe. Heatwaves, heavy rainfall, tropical cyclones, droughts and wildfires are becoming more frequent and severe, with devastating human and economic consequences.

WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo said 2025 alone saw thousands of deaths and affected millions due to climate-related disasters, causing billions of dollars in losses. A separate study by Christian Aid estimated that the 10 costliest climate disasters of 2025 resulted in economic losses of around $120 billion.

These extreme events are also worsening food insecurity, driving social instability and forcing large-scale displacement of populations—further complicating efforts to adapt to climate change.

Oceans heating at record pace

The report highlights that oceans, which absorb about 90% of excess heat, are warming at unprecedented rates. Each of the past nine years has set a new record for ocean heat content, with warming in the last two decades occurring at twice the rate seen between 1960 and 2005.

Nearly 90% of the world’s oceans experienced at least one heatwave in 2025, with serious implications for marine ecosystems, including coral reefs. Warmer oceans also fuel stronger storms and accelerate ice melt, contributing to rising sea levels.

Ice loss and rising seas

Polar regions are also under increasing stress. Ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland continued to lose mass in 2025, while glaciers in regions such as Iceland and the Pacific coast of North America recorded “exceptional” losses.

These changes are contributing to long-term sea-level rise, posing risks to coastal communities worldwide.

‘State of emergency’

Guterres described the situation as a “state of emergency,” warning that every major climate indicator is now “flashing red.”

The report underscores the urgency of global action to cut emissions, strengthen climate resilience and accelerate adaptation measures. Without decisive steps, scientists warn, the impacts already being felt today could intensify dramatically in the decades ahead.