The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has confirmed that the past decade has been the hottest in history, according to experts. WMO Director-General Petteri Taalas states that this trend has continued in the latest 30 years and is primarily attributed to human activity, specifically greenhouse gas emissions. The WMO report highlights that greenhouse gas concentrations have continued to increase during the years 2011-2020, resulting in record temperatures in the atmosphere and oceans, rapid ice melting, and rising sea levels. Particularly concerning changes are observed in polar and high mountain regions.

Climate change has significant implications for socio-economic development and poses threats to global security, human health, and migration, warn the experts. Each successive decade has been warmer than the preceding one, and there are no signs of this trend changing, according to Taalas. To save the planet and prevent climate change from exceeding its limits, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions should be a top priority, he added.

The report also emphasizes the urgent need for more ambitious actions to combat extreme weather events. Climate change mitigation efforts and both public and private financing have doubled in the last decade. However, substantial investment will be required in the coming years to address the challenges in this decade.