World Meteorological Organization: Earth's Climate in Most Severe Imbalance on Record

The World Meteorological Organization released a report on the 23rd stating that due to greenhouse gas emissions causing continuous warming of the atmosphere and oceans, as well as ice sheet melting, the Earth’s climate is in the most unbalanced state recorded. These rapid and large-scale changes have occurred over just a few decades, but their harmful effects will last for hundreds or even thousands of years.

March 23rd is World Meteorological Day, with this year’s theme being “Monitoring Today’s Weather, Protecting Tomorrow’s Home.” On this day, the World Meteorological Organization published the “2025 Global Climate Status” report, analyzing key climate indicators such as greenhouse gas concentrations, surface temperatures, ocean heat content and acidification levels, and polar sea ice extent.

The report confirms that 2015 to 2025 are the hottest 11 years on record, and 2025 is one of the three hottest years recorded. Extreme weather events worldwide, including heatwaves, heavy rainfall, and tropical cyclones, have caused destruction and disasters, highlighting economic and social vulnerabilities.

The report states that the vast majority of excess heat generated by global warming is stored in the oceans, which play a crucial buffering role in resisting land temperature rise. Ocean heat content in 2025 reached a new high. Over the past 20 years, ocean warming has been more than twice as fast as during 1960 to 2005.

The report also shows that the Arctic’s annual average sea ice extent in 2025 is at or near the lowest on record; the Antarctic’s annual average sea ice extent is the third lowest, only higher than in 2023 and 2024.

For the first time, the annual Global Climate Status report lists Earth’s energy balance as a key climate indicator. Earth’s energy balance measures the rate of energy entering and leaving the Earth system. Under climate stability, the energy from solar radiation received each year roughly equals the energy radiated back into space. However, rising greenhouse gas concentrations have disrupted this balance. Since 1960, when observations began, Earth’s energy imbalance has continued to worsen, especially over the past 20 years. In 2025, the degree of Earth’s energy imbalance reached a historic high.

In a statement released on the same day, the World Meteorological Organization quoted UN Secretary-General Guterres, saying that the global climate situation is in an emergency, and the Earth is being pushed to its limits. Every key climate indicator is flashing red. “Humans have just experienced the 11 hottest years on record. When history repeats itself 11 times, it is no longer a coincidence but a call for action,” Guterres said.

Source: Xinhua News Agency Client