Imported Article – 2026-03-23 15:39:00

Our planet is facing a serious energy imbalance issue that is causing oceans to warm at unprecedented rates, leading to extreme weather conditions, health risks, and threats to food supplies according to the World Meteorological Organization.

The United Nations agency confirmed that 2015 to 2025 were the hottest 11 years ever recorded, with a worrying trend showing that the rise in temperature felt by humans on the surface is only a small fraction of the heat accumulated in the Earth’s wider system. Over 90% of this excess heat is absorbed by the oceans, which reached their highest heat content in history last year. The rate of ocean warming has more than doubled in the past two decades compared to the previous 45 years.

The latest annual State of the Global Climate report emphasizes the planet’s increasing vulnerability due to human activities like the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, which release greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide at levels not seen in 800,000 years. This disruption in the energy equilibrium is causing an accumulation of heat in the Earth’s system since the 1960s, with the pace accelerating in recent years.

The report highlights that the Earth’s energy imbalance has increased significantly, equivalent to about 18 times total human energy use, with most of the additional energy being absorbed by the oceans, land, atmosphere, and ice at the poles and high mountains. Despite only a small portion of this energy affecting the surface, global temperatures are rising at concerning levels, with 2025 being one of the hottest years on record.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the current state of the global climate an emergency, with key indicators signaling a dire situation. The impact on the oceans is expected to be profound, with sea levels rising rapidly and sea ice reaching its third-lowest level ever recorded.

As the oceans absorb more heat, affecting circulation and marine life, the consequences are expected to be long-lasting. Additionally, the melting ice is contributing to rising sea levels and weakening the Earth’s ability to reflect solar radiation, further exacerbating the energy imbalance. The report warns that there is no relief in sight, with the potential transition to an El Niño phase expected to bring even more heat and a subsequent increase in global temperatures.

The consequences of these changes are already evident in failing harvests, disease outbreaks, and extreme weather events. The authors of the report stress the urgent need for action to address the escalating climate crisis.