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United Nations Weather Agency Reports 'Exceptional' Global Temperatures to Persist Through Year-End

United Nations Weather Agency Reports 'Exceptional' Global Temperatures to Persist Through Year-End

The United Nations weather agency has released a report indicating that 'exceptional' global temperatures are projected to continue through the end of the year. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), 2026 is on track to be one of the four warmest years ever recorded, with global average surface temperatures from January to September approximately 1.47 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The WMO further notes that the past 12 years have individually been the warmest on record, with the last four years topping this list. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo explained that the El Niño phenomenon, which has been developing since August, is contributing to this warming by releasing heat from the ocean, which is currently the warmest ever measured. This warming effect is expected to intensify through December, with a very strong El Niño anticipated to lead to more extreme weather events into 2027. The report also highlights that approximately 90 percent of the excess heat trapped by gr...

World leaders speak at COP31 climate conference

World leaders speak at COP31 climate conference

ANTALYA, Turkey, Nov 11 (Reuters) - World leaders including Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan set out their climate priorities in speeches at COP31 in Turkey on Wednesday.

Somalia Faces Impending Famine and Drought, Millions Projected to Suffer

Somalia Faces Impending Famine and Drought, Millions Projected to Suffer

Somalia is on the brink of a severe famine and drought, with approximately 5.4 million people projected to face crisis-level hunger or death in 2026. Tens of thousands are already experiencing catastrophic conditions, particularly in regions like Baidoa. According to U.N. News, nearly 6 million Somalis, including over 2 million children under five, lack adequate food and require acute malnutrition treatment. This crisis is driven by severe and repeated climate shocks, such as extreme drought and El Niño-induced flooding, coupled with soaring fuel and food prices, global supply chain disruptions, and significant reductions in international humanitarian funding. International aid has plummeted by up to 88% compared to previous years, forcing over 200 health and nutrition facilities to close or scale back services. This leaves fewer than 2% of those in need expected to receive proper food aid. Heavy rainfall has also led to flooding in parts of Mogadishu, impacting health centers.

UN Secretary-General Urges Immediate Action on Climate Change, Citing 'Moment of Truth'

UN Secretary-General Urges Immediate Action on Climate Change, Citing 'Moment of Truth'

UN Secretary-General António Guterres is delivering a final, urgent message to world leaders regarding climate change as his second and last term concludes at the end of the year. He emphasizes that 'This is a moment of truth' and that there is no more time for delay or shifting responsibility. Guterres will convey this message at the upcoming UN climate conference, COP31, scheduled for November 9-20. He has consistently used strong language to highlight the climate crisis, previously stating that 'the era of global boiling has arrived.' His urgency stems from worsening global conditions, including killer heat waves, storms, floods, and droughts, exacerbated by rising temperatures and the El Niño climate pattern. Guterres shared that a conversation with scientists last year, who informed him that the 2015 Paris Agreement's goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius was no longer achievable, was a significant shock and 'one of the most difficult days of my life.'

Turkey's president calls the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' at the UN climate summit

Turkey's president calls the war in Gaza an 'ecocide' at the UN climate summit

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has told a U.N. climate summit that the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza isn't only a genocide but an ecocide

Greta Thunberg arrives at UN climate talks saying ‘everything we love is at stake’

Greta Thunberg arrives at UN climate talks saying ‘everything we love is at stake’

Greta Thunberg has arrived at the U.N. climate meeting in Turkey, emphasizing the need to prioritize people and the planet over profits

World Meteorological Organization Reports 2026 Among Warmest Years, Citing Over 30,000 European Heatwave Deaths

World Meteorological Organization Reports 2026 Among Warmest Years, Citing Over 30,000 European Heatwave Deaths

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has released a report indicating that 2026 is on track to be one of the four warmest years in recorded history. Global temperatures averaged 1.47 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels from January to September 2026. This figure is expected to rise further as a very strong El Niño event intensifies, potentially becoming one of the strongest on record by December and fueling extreme weather into 2027. The WMO report, released at the opening of the UN climate conference COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, highlights that Earth's energy imbalance has reached its highest level since monitoring began, with greenhouse gases trapping unprecedented amounts of heat. Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations reached 426.8 parts per million in 2025, 53 percent above pre-industrial levels. Oceans, which absorb approximately 90 percent of excess heat, are also heading towards their tenth consecutive year of record warmth. Preliminary estimates attribute over 30,000 excess deaths ...

WFP Urges Innovative Climate Finance at COP31 to Combat Rising Food Insecurity

WFP Urges Innovative Climate Finance at COP31 to Combat Rising Food Insecurity

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has issued a warning at COP31, stating that traditional humanitarian aid is insufficient to address the escalating crises caused by frequent extreme weather events and a strengthening El Niño. The WFP emphasizes that communities lack adequate time to recover between these shocks. To counter this, the organization is advocating for sustained investment through innovative financial solutions. These solutions aim to prevent predictable weather-related hazards from developing into widespread hunger emergencies. The WFP projects that the current El Niño phenomenon could push an additional 49 million people into acute food insecurity by the end of 2027, with its peak intensity expected between October and December 2026. The impacts on planting seasons, harvests, and food prices could extend into early 2028. Regions already grappling with conflict and economic instability are particularly vulnerable to these climate shocks.

UN Report Forecasts 2026 Among Hottest Years, Citing El Niño and Climate Change Impacts

UN Report Forecasts 2026 Among Hottest Years, Citing El Niño and Climate Change Impacts

A new U.N. climate report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), released on the first day of COP31, indicates that 2026 is projected to be among the four hottest years on record. This elevated temperature trend is expected to persist into early 2027, largely due to an unusually powerful El Niño phenomenon. The report states that the global average surface temperature from January to September was approximately 2.65°F (1.47°C) above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial average. The past 12 years have consistently ranked among the hottest, with 2023 through 2026 occupying the top four positions. The current El Niño, intensifying since August, is anticipated to be the strongest on record by December, acting as a 'risk multiplier' for health and exacerbating human-caused climate change. The World Health Organization (WHO) has, for the first time, classified the anticipated health impacts of extreme heat and the record-breaking El Niño as a health emergency.

UN climate summit kicks off in Turkey after a disastrous year of extreme weather

UN climate summit kicks off in Turkey after a disastrous year of extreme weather

World leaders, delegates and climate activists are in Antalya, Turkey, for a U.N. climate summit

FEWS NET Warns of Agricultural Pressure in Mozambique Due to Heat and Poor Rainfall

FEWS NET Warns of Agricultural Pressure in Mozambique Due to Heat and Poor Rainfall

The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) has issued a warning that Mozambique's upcoming 2026/2027 agricultural season could face significant pressure from above-average temperatures and rainfall deficits. This forecast, detailed in FEWS NET's latest monitoring report, indicates that these conditions, influenced by the El Niño climate phenomenon, will increase evapotranspiration and crop water requirements across much of southern Africa. Mozambican authorities have already reported heatwaves exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in the country's south. These environmental factors are expected to exacerbate the impact of delayed rainy seasons and prolonged dry spells, posing risks to agricultural production. While southern Mozambique currently shows above-average vegetation conditions due to good rainfall in the 2025-2026 season, the central and northern regions present a less favorable outlook, with potential deterioration if below-normal rainfall materializes. FEWS NET, an international early warning ne...

UK appoints climate security envoy as Thunberg criticizes COP31 leaders

UK appoints climate security envoy as Thunberg criticizes COP31 leaders

The United Kingdom has appointed a special envoy to address climate change security threats