Earth accumulating heat at accelerating rate
The gist
The WMO reported Earth's energy imbalance is at its highest since monitoring began in 1960.
The ocean absorbs about 90% of the excess heat, so warming will persist.
How it unfolded
- 2025Earth's energy imbalance reached its highest observed value since monitoring began in 1960, and upper-2,000-meter ocean heat content was the highest on record.
- Jun 10, 2026The IGCC report in Earth System Science Data put 2025 warming at 1.37°C and projected the 1.5°C level would be surpassed in about four years.
- Aug 2026A Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research study in Geophysical Research Letters reported the first statistically significant confirmation of accelerating warming, with the rate nearly doubling to about 0.35°C per decade over the past ten years.
Key terms
- WMO
- A United Nations specialized agency promoting international cooperation on atmospheric science, climatology, hydrology and geophysics.
- COP31
- The 31st session of the UN climate change conference under the UNFCCC, where parties meet to negotiate climate action.
Source: Wikipedia