WMO warns intense El Niño will worsen global warming and extreme weather through 2027

A new World Meteorological Organization report warns that an exceptionally intense El Niño event is set to amplify global warming and extreme weather well beyond 2027, compounding record temperatures, ice melt, and sea-level rise. The report, released for COP31, confirms the last 12 years were the hottest on record, with 2026's average temperature running 1.47°C above pre-industrial levels. Ocean heat content and sea levels have reached historic highs, while glaciers lost over 400 gigatonnes of ice in 2025. UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated the world has entered "a new era of climate extremes," urging leaders to rapidly cut emissions and support vulnerable nations. The report also notes that the number of countries with multi-hazard early warning systems has increased from 56 in 2015 to 136 in 2025.