‘Climate breakdown in real time’: UN Secretary-General

World Meteorological Organization – The year 2024 is set to be the warmest on record, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said, as greenhouse gas levels continue to grow to record observed highs, locking in even more heat for the future.

“Today, I can officially report that we have just endured a decade of deadly heat. The top 10 hottest years on record have happened in the last 10 years, including 2024,” said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.

“This is climate breakdown — in real time. We must exit this road to ruin — and we have no time to lose. In 2025, countries must put the world on a safer path by dramatically slashing emissions, and supporting the transition to a renewable future.”

WMO will publish the consolidated global temperature figure for 2024 later this month and its full State of the Global Climate 2024 report in March.

“In my first year as WMO Secretary-General, I have issued repeated Red Alerts about the state of the climate,” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo. “WMO marks its 75th anniversary in 2025 and our message will be that if we want a safer planet, we must act now. It’s our responsibility. It’s a common responsibility, a global responsibility.”

“This year we saw record-breaking rainfall and flooding events and terrible loss of life in so many countries, causing heartbreak to communities on every continent. Tropical cyclones caused a terrible human and economic toll, most recently in the French overseas department of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean. Intense heat scorched dozens of countries, with temperatures topping 50 degrees Celsius on a number of occasions. Wildfires wreaked devastation,” she added.

In 2025, there will be a strong focus on the cryosphere – the frozen parts of the Earth including sea ice, ice sheets, frozen ground – as it is the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation.

Throughout 2024, reports from the WMO highlighted the rapid pace of climate change and its far-reaching impacts on every aspect of sustainable development.

Climate change intensified 26 of the 29 weather events that killed at least 3,700 people and displaced millions, according to a new report from World Weather Attribution and Climate Central. The report said that climate change added 41 days of dangerous heat in 2024, harming human health and ecosystems.

As global temperatures rise and extreme heat events become more frequent and severe, there is a growing need for enhanced international co-operation to address extreme heat risks. A group of experts convened at WMO headquarters on Dec. 17 to 19 to advance a co-ordinated framework for tackling the growing threat of extreme heat.

It’s one of many initiatives by the WMO to safeguard public health through improved climate services and early warnings. The WMO will continue to coordinate worldwide efforts to observe and monitor the state of the climate, support international efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change.