United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the world has entered a new era of extreme weather, driven by human-induced climate change and an exceptionally powerful developing El Niño phenomenon.
He called on world leaders gathered in Antalya, Turkey, for the UN climate conference COP31 to take more decisive action to address the growing climate crisis.
“A super-sized El Niño is colliding with a planet already overheated by human-caused climate change,” Guterres said, warning that the world has entered an era of increasingly severe climate extremes.
He urged governments to accelerate emissions reductions, advance a just transition away from fossil fuels, and provide financial assistance and protection for countries most vulnerable to climate change.
2026 Among the Hottest Years on Record
Guterres’ warning coincided with the release of a new report by the UN’s World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which found that 2026 is continuing a prolonged period of exceptionally high global temperatures, melting ice, and rising sea levels.
According to the agency, each of the past 12 years ranks among the 12 warmest years ever recorded. Preliminary data also indicate that 2026 is likely to rank among the four warmest years in recorded history, although its final position has not yet been determined.
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo described the latest climate indicators as unprecedented, saying the situation gives new meaning to the expression “off the charts.”
She warned that the exceptionally strong El Niño currently developing could further intensify global warming and extreme weather events, potentially well into 2027.
“We need to prepare for another record-breaking year in 2027,” Saulo told reporters in Geneva.
The WMO reported that the average global surface temperature between January and September 2026 was approximately 1.47 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average.
El Niño Could Intensify Global Warming
El Niño is a natural climate phenomenon characterized by unusually warm sea-surface temperatures across the tropical Pacific Ocean.
According to Saulo, the developing event could become one of the strongest recorded since at least 1950. Temperatures in parts of the tropical Pacific could potentially reach 3.8 degrees Celsius above average between now and January.
The phenomenon releases additional heat from the ocean into the atmosphere, potentially amplifying the effects of human-caused global warming.
Scientists warn that the combination could increase the likelihood and intensity of heatwaves, tropical cyclones, and periods of exceptionally heavy rainfall.
Rising Sea Levels and Accelerating Extreme Weather
The WMO also reported that global sea levels have reached record highs, freshwater resources are declining, and glaciers continue their long-term retreat.
According to the agency, the annual loss of glacier ice in 2025 was equivalent to filling five Olympic-sized swimming pools every second.
Saulo warned that the combination of global warming and El Niño is multiplying weather-related risks.
“We are amplifying our weather, and El Niño will be a risk multiplier,” she said, adding that extreme weather events are intensifying faster than historical climate models and preparedness systems had anticipated.
Early Warning Systems Show Progress
Despite the worsening climate indicators, the WMO highlighted progress in expanding early warning systems designed to protect communities from multiple weather-related hazards.
The number of countries with basic multi-hazard early warning systems increased from 55 in 2015 to 136 in 2025, according to the agency.
However, the organization stressed that additional investment is needed in global observation networks, climate data collection, and forecasting capabilities to ensure vulnerable populations receive timely warnings.
“We cannot afford to fly blind,” Saulo said, urging COP31 participants to strengthen international cooperation and invest in climate monitoring and early warning infrastructure.
The warnings have placed renewed pressure on governments attending COP31 to translate their climate commitments into concrete action, particularly through emissions reductions, the transition to cleaner energy, climate financing, and adaptation measures for countries most exposed to the effects of global warming.
