UN report highlights extreme weather events and rising global temperatures, urging urgent action at Cop26

The United Nations World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has declared that the planet is now in “uncharted territory” due to the accelerating climate crisis. The WMO’s “State of the Global Climate” report reveals that the past seven years have been the hottest on record, with rising sea levels and severe weather events such as heatwaves, wildfires, droughts, and floods wreaking havoc around the world.

This year’s report underscores the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, and is being used to inform the crucial Cop26 climate negotiations. UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, “From the ocean depths to mountain tops, from melting glaciers to relentless extreme weather events, communities and ecosystems around the globe are being devastated.” He stressed that Cop26 is a critical moment for the world, urging global leaders to take immediate, ambitious action to curb further damage.

Prof. Petteri Taalas, the WMO secretary general, also warned that “extreme events are the new norm” and reiterated that Cop26 represents a “make-or-break opportunity” to realign global efforts to tackle the climate crisis.