COP31: World entering age of climate extremes — UN chief
AI Executive Briefing
Gemini Flash AI~45s readUN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that the world is entering a new era of climate extremes, urging leaders at the COP31 conference in Turkey to accelerate emission cuts and fossil fuel transitions. The warning coincides with a WMO report confirming record-breaking temperatures and sea levels driven by an exceptionally strong El Niño.
Context & Background
- ✦The global climate is experiencing a streak of exceptional temperatures, with the past 12 years ranking among the hottest on record.
- ✦The current El Niño event is projected to be the strongest since at least 1950, acting as a risk multiplier for heatwaves, cyclones, and storms.
Key Figures & Named Entities
•Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, called for urgent action to cut emissions and protect vulnerable nations.•Celeste Saulo, WMO Chief, warned that sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific may reach 3.8C above average through January.
Outlook & Next Steps
The WMO is urging COP31 participants to increase investment in global observation, data-gathering, and early warning systems to mitigate the impacts of intensifying weather events.
Key Takeaways
AI Summary- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres declared that the world has entered a new age of climate extremes driven by man-made climate change and a supersized El Niño.
- The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) confirmed that 2026 is among the four hottest years on record, with 2027 expected to potentially break further records.
- Global sea levels have reached record highs, while glaciers continue to retreat and freshwater resources are dwindling globally.
Key Facts:January to September 2026: The global average surface temperature between January and September 2026 was approximately 1.47 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average.2015 to 2025: The number of countries with multi-hazard early warning systems increased from 55 in 2015 to 136 in 2025.
Editorial Excerpt
The world is entering a new reality where climate extremes are the norm, the United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres warned Monday, urging leaders at the COP31 climate conference in Turkey…
Frequently Asked Questions About This Story
What is the primary cause of the current climate extremes according to the UN?
The UN Secretary-General attributes the extremes to a collision between a supersized El Niño and a planet already superheated by man-made climate change.
How much ice was lost in 2025?
In 2025, the annual mass loss of ice was sufficient to fill five Olympic pools every second.
