World entering 'age of climate extremes': UN chief

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres warned on Monday that the world is entering an era of climate extremes, urging leaders at the COP31 climate conference in Turkey to act decisively. Guterres highlighted a supersized El Nino event colliding with a planet already warmed by human-induced climate change, declaring, "We have entered a new age of climate extremes." He called for faster cuts in emissions, a just transition away from fossil fuels, and the provision of necessary finance and protection for vulnerable nations.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported that 2026 has continued a streak of exceptional global temperatures, melting ice, and rising sea levels. Each of the past 12 years has been among the hottest 12 on record, with 2026 expected to be among the hottest ever. WMO chief Celeste Saulo cautioned that the current unusually strong El Nino could unleash more heat and extreme weather well into next year, potentially ushering in another record-breaking year in 2027.

Global average surface temperatures for the period from January to September 2026 were approximately 1.47 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The WMO forecast that the El Nino event, expected to be the strongest since at least 1950, could push this figure higher by the end of the year. Preliminary data suggests 2026 may rank among the four hottest years on record, though final numbers may indicate it is nearing the top.

The El Nino phenomenon, characterized by unusually warm sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific, has released heat from the ocean, making this year the warmest ever recorded. El Nino is declared when sea surface temperatures are half a degree above average in the tropical Pacific, but forecasts indicate it may reach 3.8 degrees Celsius above average from now through January.

The WMO also reported that global sea levels reached a new record high, freshwater resources were dwindling, and glaciers continued a long-term retreat. In 2025, the annual mass loss of ice equaled filling five Olympic-sized pools every second. Saulo warned that El Nino would act as a risk multiplier, intensifying heatwaves, tropical cyclones, and rainstorms beyond what historical baselines could prepare for.

On a positive note, the WMO noted a significant increase in the number of countries with essential multi-hazard early warning systems, rising from 55 in 2015 to 136 in 2026. However, Saulo urged the COP31 to ensure more investment in sustained global observations, data-gathering, and forecasting to ensure these systems function effectively. She emphasized, "We cannot afford to fly blind."