El Niño pushes 2026 heat to 1.47C as COP31 opens in Antalya
- COP31 climate summit begins in Antalya, Turkey.
- 2026 temperatures are 1.47C above pre-industrial levels.
- UN Secretary-General warns of a new age of climate extremes.
- A powerful El Niño is driving record-breaking global heat.
- Experts warn 2027 could be another record-breaking year.
The 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) opened in Antalya, Turkey, on 9 November 2026, as the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released its latest state of the climate update. The summit, scheduled to run until 20 November, brings together international delegates to address the urgent implications of rising global temperatures.
He stated that a "supersized El Niño is colliding with a planet already superheated by manmade climate change".
Mr Guterres added that climate records keep falling while the human costs keep rising, noting that those least responsible for the crisis are suffering first and worst.
Met Office chief scientist Stephen Belcher noted that the world is currently designed for a 20th-century climate that no longer exists. This mismatch between existing infrastructure and current weather patterns will impact all aspects of life, he said.
Global temperatures reach 1.47C above pre-industrial levels
The EU's Copernicus climate service indicates that 2026 is nearly certain to be the second calendar year, following 2024, to surpass the 1.5 degrees Celsius pre-industrial threshold.
Le Monde reported that 2026 is the hottest year since records began in 1976.
Last 12 years rank as warmest on record
Each of these years has ranked among the warmest ever recorded.
The most recent four years rank as the top four hottest. 2026 is expected to be among the hottest years on record.
World enters new age of climate extremes
She said the world is supercharging its weather and that El Niño will be a risk multiplier.
Saulo urged COP31 participants to increase investment in forecasting and data collection, stating that the world cannot afford to fly blind.
El Niño releases stored ocean heat
The World Meteorological Organization reported that the current El Niño event does not add new heat to the planet but releases heat already stored in the ocean.
Temperatures in parts of the tropical Pacific could reach 3.8 degrees Celsius above average between November 2026 and January 2027.
The event is expected to reach its peak intensity after December 2026, with effects continuing beyond that time.
Sea levels and glacier loss reach critical milestones
Freshwater storage has been decreasing since 2014, while glaciers continue their long-term retreat.
Recent climate impacts include extensive wildfires across Europe and a glacier collapse in Nepal that resulted in more than 1,000 deaths.
Guterres urges rapid transition to clean energy
He also called for the provision of necessary finance and protection for vulnerable nations.
UN climate chief Simon Stiell noted that global renewables saved approximately half a trillion dollars last year.
WMO forecasts continued heat into 2027
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) predicts that 2027 will see no let-up in high temperatures as an unusually powerful El Niño event is expected to continue into next year.
Celeste Saulo stated, "We should prepare for another record-breaking year in 2027".
COP31 addresses finance, AI energy demands, and waste
UN climate chief Simon Stiell told governments on 9 November 2026 that global heating is already costing the Earth and that no single COP conference can bridge the chasm between science and reality. Governments are expected to use the COP31 forum to discuss global AI policy, specifically regarding the increasing energy and water demands of data centres.
Wealthier nations previously agreed to triple climate adaptation funding for developing countries to at least £63bn ($85bn) by 2035, but 2024 data shows that only about one-third of that figure has been reached. Many countries have redirected aid budgets toward defence spending and short-term household financial relief following the Iran-US war.
Frequently Asked Questions
- 'A supersized El Niño is colliding with a planet already superheated': 2026 will be among hottest years on record (lemonde.fr)
- 2026 could be hottest year on record. Is a 'super' El Niño to blame? | The Independent (independent.co.uk)
- Scientists say 2026 hottest year on record as climate talks begin in Turkey - Latest News from Saudi Arabia and the World (saudigazette.com.sa)
- UN chief warns world entering ‘age of climate extremes’ at COP31 - Türkiye Today (turkiyetoday.com)
- UN Chief Warns Climate Extremes Are Becoming the New Global Reality (kurdistan24.net)
- 2026 to be one of four warmest years on record: World Meteorological Organization (deccanherald.com)
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