Climate Degradation Will Have Consequences For “Hundreds And Thousands Of Years”

The World Meteorological Organization’s latest State of the Global Climate report reveals that Earth’s energy imbalance—the gap between heat absorbed and heat released—is at its highest ever recorded, driven by unprecedented levels of greenhouse gases. This imbalance means the planet is trapping more heat than it can shed, causing long-term warming of the oceans, melting ice, and destabilising weather patterns with consequences that will persist for hundreds to thousands of years. The report emphasises the urgent need to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels to mitigate escalating climate impacts on food security, health, and global stability.