Earth is retaining more heat than ever, UN report finds

Earth is losing its ability to cool itself, and the consequences are already unfolding.A new report from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) shows that the planet is trapping more heat than ever before, pushing the global climate deeper into dangerous territory.At the heart of the warning is a record-breaking energy imbalance, which is the gap between the heat entering Earth from the sun and the amount escaping back into space. That gap is now the largest since measurements began in 1960. In simple terms, more heat is staying, and it is baking the planet.“Every key climate indicator is flashing red,” alarms UN secretary general, António Guterres, pointing to rising temperatures, ocean warming, melting ice and rising sea levels. He describes the situation as a global emergency.The numbers tell a stark story. The past 11 years are the hottest on record, with 2025 ranking among the top three. Global temperatures have risen about 1.43°C above pre-industrial levels, edging closer to limits scientists say should not be crossed.The main driver is the surge in greenhouse gases, which are now at record levels, with carbon dioxide concentrations the highest in at least 2 million years. “The planet is just not getting a chance to cool down,” said Ashkay Deoras, a research scientist at Britain's National Centre for Atmospheric Science at the University of Reading, in a New York Times report about this issue. More than 90% of global heat is being absorbed by the oceans. However, this isn't good news as it is storing it. Ocean temperatures are rising rapidly as the heat in the deep-sea layers tends to linger for centuries. Meanwhile, glaciers are shrinking, polar ice is thinning, and sea levels have risen by about 11 cm since 1993. Extreme weather is becoming more violent and less predictable. “In 2025, extreme weather caused thousands of deaths and billions in losses,” said Celeste Saulo, WMO secretary general.Scientists warn the trend is locking in long-term damage. The longer emissions continue, the harder and slower any recovery will be, even if emissions are reduced.