Climate report reveals alarming new records as heat deaths rise

The World Meteorological Organization's State of the Climate 2026 report, released at COP31 in Antalya, reveals record-breaking global temperatures, with the average temperature rising 1.47 degrees Celsius in the first nine months of the year, excluding the current El Niño. The report shows sea levels and ocean surface temperatures at record highs, and 2026 is projected to be among the four warmest years ever recorded. A Nature study attributes 32,619 of 50,391 heat-related deaths in European cities this summer to human-caused climate change. Climate professor Erik Kjellström warns of a health crisis next year due to El Niño, including wildfires, heatwaves, droughts, and crop failures. He notes Sweden's warming is double the global average, with shorter winters, longer summers, and increased flood and drought risks.