global warming

People cross a flooded river in western Haiti after a bridge was washed away by Hurricane Matthew. (file)
MINUSTAH/Logan Abassi

‘Tipping point’ for climate action: Time’s running out to avoid catastrophic heating

16 September 2021
Climate and Environment

The temporary reduction in carbon emissions caused by global COVID-19 lockdowns did not slow the relentless advance of climate change. Greenhouse gas concentrations are at record levels, and the planet is on path towards dangerous overheating, a multi-agency climate report published on Thursday warns. 

Across the world, more incidents of extreme weather events are being recorded.
WMO/Daniel Pavlinovic

Climate and weather related disasters surge five-fold over 50 years, but early warnings save lives - WMO report

1 September 2021
Climate and Environment

Climate change and increasingly extreme weather events, have caused a surge in natural disasters over the past 50 years disproportionately impacting poorer countries, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) said on Wednesday.

The town of Kendal in England, UK.
Unsplash/Ian Cylkowski

Chilliest Spring in years is cold comfort as CO2 emissions rise: WMO

8 June 2021
Climate and Environment

Confirmation that Europe has just had its chilliest Spring in years is cold comfort for the planet, amid rising greenhouse gas levels which will bring negative impacts for generations to come, UN weather experts said on Tuesday.

Sunrise in the Ebro Delta in Spain's Catalonia region.
WMO/Agusti Descarrega Sola

World now likely to hit watershed 1.5 °C rise in next five years, warns UN weather agency

26 May 2021
Climate and Environment

Odds are increasing that the annual average global temperature will rise beyond 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, in at least one of the next five years, the UN weather agency warns in a new report issued on Thursday.

Amidst record-high temperatures, a helicopter flying over the arctic observes a planet that is changing at an unprecedented pace.
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

Planet-warming trend continues: 2020 closes hottest decade on record – UN weather agency

24 December 2020
Climate and Environment

As 2020 draws to a close, it leaves in its wake the warmest decade on record and one of the three hottest years ever measured, according to the UN weather agency.
 

The Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon in Iceland is formed naturally from melted glacial water and is perpetually growing while big blocks of ice crumble from a shrinking glacier.
UN News/Laura Quiñones

2020 may be third hottest year on record, world could hit climate change milestone by 2024

2 December 2020
Climate and Environment

This year is on track to be one of the three hottest on record, completing a run of six years that were all hotter than any year ever measured before, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Wednesday.  

The UN Secretary-General António Guterres visited the low-lying island of Tuvalu in May 2019 to see how Pacific Ocean nations would be effected by the rise in sea levels.
UN Photo/Mark Garten

Guterres vows support for island States in twin fight against COVID-19, climate crisis

21 April 2020
Climate and Environment

In an era of new challenges wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic, Secretary-General António Guterres is pledging the UN’s continued support to small island States – longtime leaders in the global fight against the devastating impacts of climate change.

Aerial view of melting glaciers on King George Island, Antarctica.
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

Climate crisis: Antarctic continent posts record temperature reading of 18.3°C

7 February 2020
Climate and Environment

Fresh fears of accelerating damage to the planet’s ice sheets and sea level rise have been fuelled by confirmation from the UN’s weather agency that the Antarctic likely saw a new temperature record of more than 18°C on Thursday. 

People living on the Comoros archipelago in the Indian Ocean are needing to adapt to climate change.
UNDP Comoros/James Stapley

Climate change: ‘A moral, ethical and economic imperative’ to slow global warming say UN leaders, calling for more action

9 May 2019
Climate and Environment

It is nothing less than a “moral, ethical and economic imperative” to take more action to mitigate the existential threat posed by climate change, said top executives from across the United Nations system on Thursday.

Youth attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bonn, Germany. Photo/UNFCCC
UNFCCC

Voices of young climate action activists ‘give me hope’ says UN chief

15 March 2019
Climate and Environment

In the wake of Friday’s demonstrations by schoolchildren across the world against climate change inaction, the UN Secretary-General has said he understands their fears, but is hopeful for the future.