The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warns the planet is heading toward dangerous overheating faster than expected. This stark announcement coincided with the opening of the COP29 UN Climate Summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Monday.

Unprecedented Warming Trends Confirmed

The WMO’s Global State of the Climate report for 2024 confirms the past decade was the warmest on record. This aligns with long-standing climate scientists’ predictions.

“This is not a surprise,” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo. “Scientists have sounded alarms for over 30 years. The slow response to these warnings is alarming.”

The findings also reflect data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), which predicts 2024 may become the hottest year in recorded history.

Global temperatures have already risen by 1.3°C since pre-industrial times, driving unprecedented climate impacts. These include record-high sea surface temperatures, melting ice sheets, severe droughts, and devastating floods like those recently experienced in Spain.

“The intensity of these events is overwhelming,” Saulo stated. “Many regions remain unprepared for the severe conditions we now face. Creating response protocols is critical for survival.”

Rising Greenhouse Gas Emissions Compound Crisis

Despite reductions in some regions, global greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, worsening the crisis. Emissions from any region, whether Beijing, Baku, or Berlin, contribute to the same atmospheric heat-trapping effects.

At COP29, global delegates are discussing strategies to reduce emissions and slow warming. However, emissions persistently rise in many areas, deepening the crisis.

In October, Europe recorded an average temperature of 10.83°C, 1.23°C above the 1991–2020 average. This marked October as Europe’s fifth warmest and the second warmest globally, highlighting the crisis’s urgency.

The WMO’s report and COP29 discussions emphasize the immediate need for stronger, faster action to mitigate global warming and its devastating impacts.