COP31: World entering age of climate extremes — UN chief

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned leaders at the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Turkey, that the world is entering a new reality where climate extremes are the norm. According to Malay Mail, Guterres stated that a "supersized El Nino" is colliding with a planet already superheated by manmade climate change. He urged leaders to get serious by accelerating a just transition from fossil fuels, cutting emissions faster, and providing the finance and protection required by vulnerable countries.

A report from the UN’s World Meteorological Organization indicates that 2026 has continued a streak of rising sea levels, melting ice, and exceptional global temperatures. Malay Mail reports that each of the previous 12 years has been among the hottest on record, with this year expected to be among the hottest ever. WMO chief Celeste Saulo told reporters in Geneva that the current strong El Nino could lead to more heat and extreme weather into next year, adding that preparations should be made for another record-breaking year in 2027.

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch Nigeria, Punch, Malay Mail — 3 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.