United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned Monday that the world has entered a new era in which extreme climate events are becoming the norm, urging world leaders gathered for the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Turkey, to take urgent action.
"An exceptionally strong El Niño phenomenon is colliding with a planet already severely overheated by human-caused climate change," Guterres said in a statement. "We have entered a new era of extreme climate."
Guterres called on leaders attending the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change conference to "finally take serious action—accelerate emissions reductions, speed up the just transition away from fossil fuels, and provide vulnerable nations with the financing and protection they need."
The UN World Meteorological Organization reported that all of the past 12 years rank among the warmest on record. The organization's Secretary-General Celeste Saulo told reporters that the current exceptionally strong El Niño phenomenon could extend high temperatures and extreme weather into next year.
From January through September 2026, global average surface temperatures were approximately 1.47 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, according to the WMO. Preliminary data indicates 2026 will rank among the four warmest years on record, though the organization noted that as the El Niño phenomenon develops, this year could approach record-high temperatures.
Global sea levels have reached record highs, freshwater resources are diminishing, and glaciers continue their long-term retreat. The organization reported that the volume of ice lost globally over the past year averages enough to fill five Olympic-size swimming pools every second.
The number of countries with multi-hazard early warning systems has increased substantially, from 55 nations in 2015 to 136 countries as of last year.
The COP31 conference brings together representatives from approximately 200 nations to negotiate climate policy and commitments.