UN climate report warns of accelerating heat accumulation

As COP31 opens in Antalya, Turkey, the World Meteorological Organization says Earth’s energy imbalance reached its highest level since monitoring began. It reports that 2026 is on track to be among the four warmest years recorded, while a separate BBC snippet says scientists predict it could be the hottest.

• The WMO said Earth’s energy imbalance reached its highest level since monitoring began, and that heat is accumulating in the planet’s systems at an accelerating rate.· 1 source
• The WMO puts the January–September 2026 global average surface temperature about 1.47°C above the preindustrial average; the year is on track to be one of the four warmest on record.· 1 source
• The report says sea levels were the highest since records began and ocean heat continued to set records; the WMO says the ocean absorbs 90% of excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases.· 1 source
• The WMO reported that carbon dioxide reached 426.8 parts per million in 2025, compared with 356.42 parts per million in 1992.· 1 source
• The summit begins in Antalya, Turkey; a BBC snippet says scientists predict 2026 could be the hottest year on record.· 2 sources