The Earth's climate is further out of balance than at any time in recorded history, the UN's weather agency has warned.

The World Meteorological Organization says that our planet is gaining much more heat energy than it can release, driven by emissions of warming gases such as carbon dioxide.

This record energy imbalance heated the ocean to new heights last year and continued to melt our planet's ice caps.

And scientists fear that a natural warming phase called El Niño – expected to begin later this year - could soon bring further heat records.

In response to the report, UN Secretary General António Guterres reiterated his call for countries to move away from fossil fuels to renewable energy to deliver climate security, energy security and national security.

Planet Earth is being pushed beyond its limits. Every key climate indicator is flashing red, he warned, in a typically punchy video address.

The last 11 years were the Earth's 11 warmest years in records stretching back to 1850, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

In 2025, global average air temperatures were approximately 1.43°C above those of pre-industrial times - before humans started burning significant amounts of fossil fuels.

A temporary cooling from the natural La Niña weather pattern meant that 2025 was not quite as hot as 2024, which was boosted by the opposite El Niño phase.

Overall, last year was still one of the three warmest years since records began, with many scientists believing that warming is accelerating, placing temperatures within the range of long-term predictions.

The WMO indicates a wealth of other evidence showing that the climate is changing faster than previously observed.

The most comprehensive measure is the increase in extra heat energy being absorbed by the Earth, which reached a new high last year, establishing the foundation for climate change.

While scientists continue to study the exact reasons behind the Earth's increased heat retention, it is clear that heat-trapping greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide are the primary drivers.

Last year saw some of the worst impacts on global climate indicators, including record low sea ice, disastrous glacier melting, and rising ocean temperatures causing increased extreme weather.

The report underscores a critical moment for global climate policy, emphasizing the imperative for nations to take decisive action to mitigate these dire trends.