Global heating and a destabilising climate
The planet is already around 1.4 °C warmer than pre-industrial times. Every fraction of a degree adds heatwaves, ice loss and risk for billions of people.
How this affects people
Burning coal, oil and gas has raised greenhouse-gas concentrations to levels not seen in millions of years. The extra heat mostly goes into the ocean, but the atmosphere, ice sheets and land all respond: hotter extremes, heavier downpours, longer droughts and rising seas.
The WMO confirmed 2015–2025 as the eleven warmest years on record, with 2025 around 1.43 °C above the 1850–1900 average and Earth's energy imbalance at a record high. Near-term forecasts now treat a temporary breach of 1.5 °C as very likely before 2030.
The Arctic warms several times faster than the global average, which is why the hotspot on the globe sits on Greenland: its melting ice is one of the clearest long-range signals of what is locked in.
Look at what keeps the problem going
- 01CO₂ from fossil-fuel combustion and cement production
- 02Methane from fossil-fuel leaks, livestock, rice and landfills
- 03Land-use change and deforestation that release stored carbon
- 04Feedbacks such as shrinking ice and snow reflecting less sunlight
What could happen next
The future leaves room for choices. Compare the outlooks, check what supports them and notice where the evidence becomes less certain
Another year at or near record heat
WMO decadal forecasts expect annual temperatures between 1.3 °C and 1.9 °C above pre-industrial through 2030, so 2027 is likely to rank among the hottest years measured, with more intense heatwaves and marine heat.
The future is not a timetable. These summaries reflect published scenarios and trends, with deeper uncertainty at longer horizons. Choices made now matter.
Where could a useful response begin?
Begin with a question you can investigate. Compare the sources and follow related briefings to see how the problem connects to other lives and places. This prototype does not accept proposals yet.
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