Planetary extremes are ‘off the charts’ as climate talks kick off
A new World Meteorological Organization report warns that 2026 climate extremes are reaching unprecedented levels, exacerbated by a super-sized El Niño. The report highlights devastating global impacts, including record-breaking heatwaves and natural disasters, as world leaders gather for COP31.
Why it matters
The report underscores the accelerating pace of climate change and the urgent need for global policy intervention to mitigate human and economic costs.
The climate and weather extremes endured by the planet over the course of 2026 will continue into next year, and give “new meaning to off the charts,” according to a new report from the World Meteorological Organization, published Monday as the world’s biggest climate talks begin in Turkey. The report, timed to inform discussions at the UN-led COP31 climate conference, highlights a slew of unprecedented climate events and warns worse may be to come as as a super-sized El Niño — the natural climate pattern that typically boosts global temperatures — gains strength. “We are supercharging our weather and El Niño will be a risk multiplier. Heatwaves, tropical cyclones, and rainstorms are intensifying faster than our historical baselines prepared us for,” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.
Headlinne story · 5 newsrooms
Global Leaders Convene in Turkey as Climate Extremes Reach Record Levels
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