The Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Celeste Saulo, has sounded the alarm that 2025 could register as one of the hottest years on record, with global temperatures alarming approaching the thresholds established by the Paris Agreement. During her address at the General Plenary of the Belém Climate Summit, Saulo highlighted troubling data from the latest State of the Climate Update for 2025, which indicates a rapid acceleration in global warming.
Saulo stressed the fundamental principles of physics, asserting, “We cannot defy the laws of physics. Science does not lie. The alarming streak of exceptional temperatures continues.” The WMO report reveals that the global average temperature from January to August 2025 has surpassed pre-industrial levels by approximately 1.42°C. Greenhouse gas concentrations have reached unprecedented levels not seen in 800,000 years, with carbon dioxide levels increasing more quickly than any prior record between 2023 and 2024.
The implications of these developments are significant, as Saulo noted that record-high ocean heat content is leading to irreversible harm to marine ecosystems and related economic structures. Sea levels are continuing to rise over the long term, and both the Arctic and Antarctic regions are experiencing dangerously low levels of sea ice. “Destructive weather events such as flash floods, heatwaves, and intensified tropical cyclones are becoming commonplace, leaving enduring effects on communities long after immediate media attention fades,” she cautioned.
Saulo underscored the urgent need for immediate action, warning that it will soon be “virtually impossible” to maintain global warming below the critical limit of 1.5°C without temporarily breaching the targets set out in international agreements. “Every fraction of a degree matters,” she reiterated.
Despite these alarming statistics, Saulo offered a message of hope, highlighting advancements in adaptation and resilience initiatives. She pointed to effective early warning systems and climate services that are saving lives and empowering communities to better prepare for adverse weather conditions. “Across the globe, early warnings are saving lives. We are closing gaps in the world’s most vulnerable regions, helping communities act before hazards strike,” she noted.
In closing her address, Saulo urged world leaders to confront these urgent challenges during the forthcoming COP30 climate conference in Brazil. “Let COP30 be remembered as the moment the world changed course with the Amazon as its witness. We can’t rewrite the laws of physics, but we can rewrite our path,” she declared, emphasizing the critical need for unity and decisive action against climate change.
These findings echo previous WMO reports which indicated that 2024 was the hottest year on record, with temperatures exceeding pre-industrial levels by 1.55°C. This ongoing trend underscores the pressing necessity for increased global collaboration towards sustainable solutions and effective carbon emission reduction. The collective commitment demonstrated at these climate summits offers a hopeful opportunity for transformative progress and a more resilient future.