
Geneva [Switzerland], May 28 (ANI): The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has issued a dire warning in its latest Global Annual to Decadal Climate Update (2025–2029), predicting a sharp rise in global temperatures over the next five years. According to the report, there is an 80% chance that at least one year between 2025 and 2029 will exceed 2024 as the warmest year on record, with temperatures expected to range between 1.2°C and 1.9°C above pre-industrial levels.
The report also indicates a 70% probability that the five-year average global temperatures for the 2025–2029 period will exceed the critical threshold of 1.5°C above the 1850–1900 baseline, a major benchmark under the Paris Agreement. This marks a significant rise from previous projections: 47% in the 2024–2028 update and just 32% in the 2023–2027 update.
In a press release on Wednesday, the WMO stated, “The World Meteorological Organization Global Annual to Decadal Climate Update (2025–2029) projects that global temperatures are expected to continue at or near record levels in the next five years, increasing climate risks and impacts on societies, economies, and sustainable development.”
The organization further noted that there is an 86% likelihood that at least one year in the five-year period will experience annual average temperatures more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
The implications of surpassing these thresholds are grave. The WMO highlighted that every incremental rise in temperature increases the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, heavy rainfall, prolonged droughts, ice melt, ocean warming, and rising sea levels. These effects pose a significant threat to biodiversity, food and water security, and global health.
Additionally, the report pointed out that the South Asian region, apart from 2023, has experienced anomalously wet conditions in recent years—a trend that is expected to continue through 2025–2029.
The Global Annual to Decadal Climate Update is compiled annually by the WMO and aggregates data from WMO-designated Global Producing Centres and other contributing climate institutions worldwide. It serves as a crucial resource for understanding near-term climate patterns and informing global adaptation and mitigation strategies. (ANI)