Last year, the United Nations reported that global heat records were broken, with 2023 marking the warmest decade on record. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released its annual State of the Climate report, confirming that 2023 was the hottest year ever recorded, occurring at the end of the warmest 10-year period on record.
UN chief Antonio Guterres described the report as showing “a planet on the brink,” emphasizing the urgent need for action. He warned that fossil fuel pollution is driving climate chaos to unprecedented levels, accelerating changes in the Earth’s systems.
The WMO highlighted that various climate indicators, such as greenhouse gas concentrations, surface temperatures, and sea level rise, surpassed previous records, signaling alarming trends. Heatwaves, wildfires, droughts, floods, and tropical cyclones disrupted lives and caused extensive economic damage worldwide.
In addition to climate-related disasters, the report highlighted a significant increase in global food insecurity, quadrupling from pre-pandemic levels to 333 million cases in 2023. While not the sole cause, extreme weather events worsen food insecurity, exacerbating existing vulnerabilities.
The report also emphasized the impact of climate shocks on forced migration, with weather-related disasters remaining a primary driver of displacement. These events undermine community resilience and pose new challenges to protecting vulnerable populations.