The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has issued a stark warning that 2027 could become the hottest year on record, driven by an unusually strong El Niño phenomenon compounding the effects of long-term climate change. The alert was delivered by WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo during the presentation of the organisation’s State of the Climate Update 2026 at a news conference held in Antalya, Türkiye, as part of the ongoing COP31 climate conference.
Saulo noted that the past 12 years have been the warmest in recorded history, with the last four years, including 2026, ranking as the hottest. Global average temperatures between January and September 2026 were approximately 1.47 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. She described the developing 2026/2027 El Niño as "off the charts," stating that sea-surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific are expected to approach four times the 0.5-degree threshold used to declare the climate phenomenon. "It is different from any El Niño that we have monitored," Saulo said, explaining that El Niño typically exerts its greatest impact on global temperatures in the following year.
“Indeed, this 2026/2027 El Niño is off the charts. It is different from any El Niño that we have monitored,” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.
Beyond temperature records, Saulo revealed that ocean heat content reached a record high for the 10th consecutive year, while global sea levels rose to unprecedented levels. These trends expose approximately 900 million people living in low-lying coastal areas to increasing risks. She warned that extreme heat, tropical cyclones, and intense rainstorms are becoming more severe, citing recent heatwaves across India, Pakistan, other parts of Asia, and North America, as well as tens of thousands of excess deaths recorded in Europe. Saulo urged governments to strengthen global climate observation systems and increase funding for early-warning mechanisms, noting that the number of countries reporting multi-hazard early-warning systems had grown from 56 in 2015 to 136 in 2025.
UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell joined the discussion, characterising the climate crisis as a global health emergency. He stated that extreme heat, pollution, and climate-related disasters are placing significant pressure on healthcare systems, with heatwaves during the northern hemisphere’s summer estimated to have killed 50,000 people across Europe. Stiell highlighted the specific dangers posed to pregnant women, newborns, and maternal health, linking these risks to continued fossil fuel consumption and deforestation. He challenged nations to accelerate electrification and the adoption of clean energy, warning that continued dependence on fossil fuels would increase costs for households, businesses, and governments.
Alan Dangour, Director of Climate and Health at Wellcome, added that fossil fuel-related air pollution and extreme heat are estimated to cause more than three million deaths annually. He identified cleaner energy, electrification, heat early-warning systems, and climate adaptation measures as key solutions to mitigate these impacts. Dangour disclosed that the Climate and Health Funders Coalition, established at COP30 with an initial joint commitment of $300 million from Wellcome and more than 35 philanthropic organisations, had awarded over $225 million in its first year. The coalition has since attracted an additional $150 million in funding commitments to support interventions targeting extreme heat, air pollution, and climate-sensitive infectious diseases.
Both officials stressed the urgency of integrating human health into climate policy. Saulo emphasized the need for sustained climate monitoring to anticipate extreme weather events, stating, "We cannot afford to fly blind." Dangour urged governments and businesses to prioritise the protection of vulnerable groups, including children, outdoor workers, and older people, asserting that the health and wellbeing of people must be at the heart of the global response to climate change.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
