The year 2025 is shaping up to be one of the warmest years ever recorded, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The alarming figures and the concatenation of extreme phenomena have placed the planet before a new warning: climate change is advancing without respite and demands forceful responses. The WMO predicts that this year could be the second or third warmest since systematic records exist, consolidating a trend that worries the scientific community.
According to the latest WMO report, since 2015, the Earth has experienced a succession of years with record temperatures. The year 2025 is no exception, the first months have shown thermal anomalies on practically all continents, with extreme heat waves in the northern hemisphere, unusually mild winters and increasingly frequent tropical nights in temperate latitudes.
According to the data published in the report, the global average temperature in 2025 is already close to 1.5 ºC above pre-industrial levels, the threshold set by the Paris Agreement as a desirable limit to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. The consequences are visible, more intense and frequent wildfires, prolonged droughts and an increase in extreme heat episodes in cities and rural areas alike.
Concentrations of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), reached historic highs in 2024 and the trend has continued in 2025. According to the WMO, the concentration of CO2 exceeded 420 parts per million (ppm), levels never seen in the modern era. These gases trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, intensifying the natural greenhouse effect and accelerating global warming.
The WMO report highlights that, despite international efforts, global emissions have not decreased at the rate necessary to stabilize the climate. The increase in global average temperature is directly linked to the persistent accumulation of these gases, driven by the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation and industrial activities.
The thaw advances
Arctic and Antarctic sea ice has reached historic lows in extent and volume. Summer melting in the Arctic has reduced the frozen surface to less than 4 million square kilometers, while Antarctica has shown accelerated losses in its ice shelves. Mountain glaciers, from the Alps to the Andes and the Himalayas, continue to retreat at an alarming rate.
This decline not only affects biodiversity and polar ecosystems, but also puts the freshwater supply for millions of people at risk and contributes to sea level rise. The WMO report warns of the possibility of reaching points of no return if drastic mitigation measures are not implemented.
Extreme weather events
The year 2025 has been marked by a succession of extreme weather events, record heat waves in southern Europe and North America, torrential rains and floods in Asia and more intense hurricanes in the Atlantic. These events have had a considerable socioeconomic impact: population displacements, agricultural losses, disruptions to critical infrastructure, and increased insurance and reconstruction costs.
The link between climate change and the greater frequency and intensity of these phenomena has been corroborated by the scientific community and recognized in WMO reports.
The sea, a global thermometer
Ocean heat has reached an all-time high this year, acting as a giant reservoir for excess energy produced by the greenhouse effect. Average sea level has risen more than 4 millimeters annually in the last decade, endangering coastal cities and small island states.
Ocean warming and acidification affect marine life, fisheries and food security, as well as intensifying coastal erosion and the risk of flooding. The WMO warns about the urgency of stopping these trends before they become irreversible.
Renewable energies, keys to hope
The development of renewable energies – solar, wind, hydraulic – and the integration of climate data in energy planning are notable advances in the fight against climate change. Climate services, which provide accurate and up-to-date information on risks and forecasts, have become essential tools for sectors such as agriculture, water management and public health.
In 2025, collaboration between meteorological agencies, governments and companies has improved decision-making and reduced vulnerability to extreme events, although challenges persist in coverage and access to these services, especially in developing countries.
One of the most significant advances has been the expansion of early warning systems, capable of anticipating dangerous weather phenomena and saving lives. According to the WMO, more than 70% of the world’s population already has some type of alert coverage, although significant gaps remain in Africa and small islands.
The WMO appeal
Within the framework of the thirtieth Conference of the Parties (COP 30) that is being held these days in Brazil, the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations have reiterated the seriousness of the situation and the need to intensify climate action. “The time to act is now. Every tenth of a degree counts,” declared the Secretary-General of the WMO, recalling that 2025 could become a point of no return if urgent measures are not adopted.
For the World Meteorological Organization, the alarm signals are becoming clearer: record temperatures, retreat of ice and glaciers, extreme events and increasing pressure on oceans and coasts. However, there is still room for maneuver and advances in renewable energy, climate information services and early warning systems show the way to greater resilience.