Tags:EnvironmentUPSCSSC
For Prelims: El Niño and La Niña, Pre-industrial level, COP (Conference of the Parties), World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Full form of WMO, Nodal body, Temperature rise (Jan-Sep 2026), Hottest years streak
For Mains: Climate extremes, Risk multiplier, Just transition, Early warning systems, COP31
Source:
The Hindu
Indian Express
5 facts for one-day exams
SSC, railway, police and teaching exams ask direct questions like these.
- UN Secretary-General António Guterres declared the world is entering an 'age of climate extremes'.
- The WMO reported 2026 is among the four hottest years on record.
- Global temperature from Jan-Sep 2026 was 1.47°C above pre-industrial levels.
- The current El Niño is expected to be the strongest since 1950.
- 136 countries have multi-hazard early warning systems as of 2025.
Why in the news?
UN Secretary-General António Guterres declared the world has entered an 'age of climate extremes' at COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye. The WMO report confirms 2026 is among the hottest years, with global temperatures 1.47°C above pre-industrial levels, record sea levels, and accelerating glacial melt. The statement urges faster emission cuts and climate finance for vulnerable nations.
Summary
- UN chief António Guterres warned at COP31 that the world is in a new 'age of climate extremes' due to a supersized El Niño colliding with manmade climate change.
- The WMO report states each of the past 12 years are among the hottest on record, with 2026 expected to be among the hottest ever.
- Global average surface temperature from Jan-Sep 2026 was 1.47°C above pre-industrial levels, and the current El Niño could be the strongest since 1950.
- WMO chief Celeste Saulo cautioned that the strong El Niño could lead to another record-breaking year in 2027.
Highlights
Age of Climate Extremes
UN chief declares a new era where climate extremes are the norm, driven by a supersized El Niño on a superheated planet.
2026 Among Hottest Years
WMO confirms 2026 is among the four hottest years on record, with global temperatures 1.47°C above pre-industrial levels.
El Niño Risk Multiplier
The current El Niño, possibly the strongest since 1950, could push temperatures higher and worsen extreme weather into 2027.
Background
The UN's World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has been tracking global climate indicators for decades. The Paris Agreement (2015) aims to limit global warming to well below 2°C, preferably 1.5°C, above pre-industrial levels. The current trajectory shows the world is dangerously close to breaching the 1.5°C threshold, with 2026 temperatures already at 1.47°C above pre-industrial averages. The COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Türkiye, serves as a critical platform for nations to accelerate climate action.
Key Analysis and Impact
The WMO report highlights multiple alarming trends: each of the past 12 years are among the hottest on record, global sea levels are at an all-time high, freshwater reserves are dwindling, and glaciers continue their long-term retreat. The 2025 annual mass loss of ice was enough to fill five Olympic swimming pools every second. The current El Niño, expected to be the strongest since 1950, acts as a 'risk multiplier', intensifying heatwaves, tropical cyclones, and rainstorms beyond historical baselines. This has direct implications for agriculture, water security, and disaster management worldwide, including in India where the monsoon and coastal regions are highly vulnerable.
Way Forward
The UN chief called for three urgent actions: faster emission cuts, a just transition from fossil fuels, and delivery of climate finance for vulnerable countries. On a positive note, the number of countries with multi-hazard early warning systems rose from 55 in 2015 to 136 in 2025, improving disaster preparedness. COP31 must ensure sustained investment in global observations, data-gathering, and forecasting. The upcoming 2027 El Niño forecast by WMO chief Saulo underscores the need for immediate, concrete national climate action plans (NDCs) and enhanced international cooperation.
Early warning systems coverage
| Year | Number of countries |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 55 |
| 2025 | 136 |
Background GK
Textbook concepts you need to understand this news
- El Niño and La Niña
- El Niño is a climate pattern characterized by the warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, occurring every 2-7 years. It disrupts global weather patterns, causing droughts in some regions and floods in others. La Niña is the opposite cooling phase.
- Pre-industrial level
- The baseline period (1850-1900) before the Industrial Revolution's large-scale greenhouse gas emissions. Global temperature rise is measured against this average to assess climate change.
- COP (Conference of the Parties)
- The supreme decision-making body of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It meets annually to review and advance global climate action. COP31 is the 31st such conference.
- World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
- A specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for promoting international cooperation in atmospheric science, climatology, hydrology, and geophysics. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
Facts to remember
Tap a card to see the answer. Try to recall it first.
How exams will ask this
- Data: Global temperature rise Jan-Sep 2026: 1.47°C above pre-industrial levels
- Data: Each of the past 12 years among hottest on record
- Data: El Niño strongest since 1950
- Data: 136 countries have multi-hazard early warning systems (2025)
- Data: 2025 annual ice mass loss = 5 Olympic pools per second
Don't make this mistake!
Confusing 'El Niño' with 'La Niña' (warming vs cooling of Pacific), or swapping the temperature anomaly (1.47°C) with the Paris Agreement target (1.5°C or 2°C). Also, the 'strongest El Niño since 1950' could be misstated as 'strongest ever'.
Write these in mains answers
- Climate extremes, Risk multiplier, Just transition, Early warning systems, COP31
Stuck? Get it in one tap
The UN chief said the world is now facing extreme weather as the new normal because of climate change and a very strong El Niño. A WMO report shows that 2026 is one of the hottest years ever, with temperatures 1.47°C higher than before the industrial age. The report also warns of record sea levels and melting ice, and says the strong El Niño could make 2027 even hotter.
- UN Secretary-General António Guterres declared the world is entering an 'age of climate extremes'.
- The WMO reported 2026 is among the four hottest years on record.
- Global temperature from Jan-Sep 2026 was 1.47°C above pre-industrial levels.
- The current El Niño is expected to be the strongest since 1950.
- 136 countries have multi-hazard early warning systems as of 2025.
- Environment: Climate change and global warming
- International Relations: UN and its agencies (WMO, UNFCCC)
Related concepts: El Niño and La Niña, Pre-industrial level, COP (Conference of the Parties), World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
Practice questions
Pick an answer, then read the explanation.
- Q1Easy
Which UN agency released the report showing 2026 among the hottest years and warning of climate extremes?
Explanation: The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a specialized agency of the UN, released the report on global temperatures, sea levels, and ice melt. UNEP focuses on environmental policy, IPCC assesses climate science, and UNDP works on development. Hence, WMO is the correct agency.
- Q2Hard
Consider the following statements regarding the WMO report and UN chief's warning:
- 1.UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated that the world has entered an 'age of climate extremes'.
- 2.The WMO report confirmed that 2026 is the single hottest year on record.
- 3.The number of countries with multi-hazard early warning systems increased from 55 in 2015 to 136 in 2025.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct: Guterres said the world is entering 'age of climate extremes'. Statement 2 is incorrect: the WMO said 2026 is among the four hottest years on record, not the single hottest. Statement 3 is correct: the number of countries with early warning systems rose from 55 to 136. Hence option C is correct.
- Q3Medium
What was the global average surface temperature anomaly (January to September 2026) compared to the pre-industrial average?
Explanation: The WMO reported that the global average surface temperature from January to September 2026 was 1.47°C above the pre-industrial average. 1.27°C is lower, while 1.57°C and 1.67°C are higher than the reported figure. Hence, 1.47°C is the correct data point.
- Q4Medium
What is the primary reason the UN chief called for 'faster emission cuts' and a 'just transition from fossil fuels' at COP31?
Explanation: The core driver of the 'age of climate extremes' is manmade climate change from greenhouse gas emissions. Cutting emissions and transitioning from fossil fuels directly addresses the root cause of global warming. El Niño is a natural phenomenon, early warning systems are adaptation tools, and reversing glacier melt completely by 2030 is not a realistic target of this call.
Frequently asked questions
1. What did UN chief Guterres say about climate change at COP31?
He warned the world has entered an 'age of climate extremes' and urged leaders to cut emissions faster and deliver climate finance.
2. What is the global temperature anomaly for Jan-Sep 2026 according to the WMO?
The global average surface temperature was 1.47°C above the pre-industrial average.
3. How strong is the current El Niño compared to historical records?
The WMO reported that the current El Niño is expected to be the strongest since 1950 at least.
4. How many countries have multi-hazard early warning systems in place by 2025?
The WMO reported that 136 countries had such systems in 2025, up from 55 in 2015.
All sources
- Original9 November 2026 · Read story
- Merged9 November 2026 · Read story
