The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has confirmed that the years 2023 to 2025 mark the hottest three-year period ever recorded. According to the State of the Global Climate Update 2025, global temperatures have risen by 1.4°C above pre-industrial levels, making 2025 likely to become the second or third-warmest year in history. The findings highlight the worsening impact of climate change, driven primarily by greenhouse gas emissions.
Global Warming Alert: WMO Declares 2023–2025 the Hottest Years on Record
Record Heat and Ocean Changes
The WMO report reveals that oceans are absorbing record levels of heat, worsening the global warming crisis.
Key findings include:
- Arctic sea ice hit its lowest winter level ever.
- Antarctic ice remained below normal levels.
- Sea levels are rising steadily due to melting glaciers and warmer oceans.
Although temporary dips occurred due to La Niña, the long-term trend remains upward. The result has been more frequent heatwaves, floods, and wildfires worldwide, showing the severe consequences of a warming planet.
Temperature Trends and El Niño’s Role
Between January and August 2025, global surface temperatures were 1.42°C above pre-industrial averages.
From June 2023 to August 2025, nearly every month broke a heat record.
The El Niño weather pattern during 2023–2024 increased global heat, while 2025 saw a shift toward neutral or La Niña conditions. However, even with this change, global temperatures remained extremely high, proving that human-driven emissions continue to dominate Earth’s climate system.
Rising Seas and Melting Glaciers
The oceans absorbed over 90% of excess heat from greenhouse gases in 2025, breaking previous heat content records.
- Sea levels have risen from 2.1 mm/year (1990s) to 4.1 mm/year (since 2016).
- The 2023–2024 hydrological year recorded the largest glacier ice loss since 1950, with around 450 gigatonnes of ice melted, raising global sea levels by 1.2 mm.
These trends show the growing impact of climate warming on polar regions and the global water cycle.
Warming Outlook and Climate Action
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo warned that keeping global warming below 1.5°C is now extremely difficult without temporary overshooting.
At the Belém Climate Summit (COP30), UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for urgent action to reduce emissions, warning that every year above 1.5°C will worsen inequality, food insecurity, and economic instability.
The WMO stressed the importance of multi-hazard early warning systems, which have doubled since 2015 but still leave 40% of nations unprotected.
As renewable energy expands, accurate climate forecasting will be essential for ensuring sustainable and resilient power systems.
Exam-Oriente d Notes
- WMO declared 2023–2025 as the hottest three-year period ever recorded.
- Global temperatures are 1.4°C higher than pre-industrial averages.
- Sea-level rise has doubled — from 2.1 mm/year (1990s) to 4.1 mm/year (since 2016).
- Glacier loss: 450 gigatonnes melted (2023–2024), causing 1.2 mm rise in sea level.
- CO₂ levels reached 423.9 ppm in 2024 — 53% higher than pre-industrial times.
- Report launched at the Belém Climate Summit (COP30).
- Urgent focus on climate resilience and early warning systems.
Question & Answer
Q1. Which organisation declared 2023–2025 as the hottest three-year period on record?
(a) UNEP
(b) WMO
(c) IPCC
(d) UNDP
Answer: WMO
Q2. By how much have global temperatures increased above pre-industrial levels, according to the WMO report?
(a) 1.2°C
(b) 1.4°C
(c) 1.6°C
(d) 2.0°C
Answer: 1.4°C
Q3. What is the current average rate of sea-level rise since 2016?
(a) 2.1 mm/year
(b) 3.2 mm/year
(c) 4.1 mm/year
(d) 5.0 mm/year
Answer: 4.1 mm/year
Q4. How much glacier ice was lost during the 2023–2024 hydrological year?
(a) 250 gigatonnes
(b) 350 gigatonnes
(c) 450 gigatonnes
(d) 500 gigatonnes
Answer: 450 gigatonnes
Q5. At which climate summit did UN Secretary-General António Guterres warn about global warming beyond 1.5°C?
(a) COP28
(b) COP29
(c) COP30
(d) COP27
Answer: COP30
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