UN warns temporary overshoot of 1.5°C is now inevitable; WMO says 2015–2025 will be warmest decade
November 06, 2025 | United Nations, Federal
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At a United Nations press briefing, the Secretary‑General warned that “the hard truth is that we have failed to ensure that we remain below 1.5 degrees,” and said a temporary overshoot beyond that limit is now inevitable unless the global community rapidly changes course.
The Secretary‑General urged a “fundamental paradigm shift” to limit the overshoot’s magnitude and duration and to rapidly drive temperatures back down, saying every fraction of a degree avoided reduces hunger, displacement and loss, especially for those least responsible for climate change.
The spokesperson for the UN summarized the Secretary‑General’s remarks and noted the Secretary‑General’s planned appearances at the COP30 summit in Belém, including bilateral meetings with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Chinese leadership.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) issued a state‑of‑the‑climate update released at Belém, which the UN spokesperson said shows the 11‑year period from 2015 through 2025 will be the warmest on record. The WMO update reports rising concentrations of heat‑trapping greenhouse gases, record ocean heat content, and near‑record low Arctic and Antarctic sea ice extents. The spokesperson said 2025 is set to be either the second or third warmest year on record.
Inger Andersen, head of the UN Environment Programme, addressed the Security Council and warned that climate change and environmental degradation can exacerbate tensions and contribute to conflict. Andersen urged member states to rebuild national capacity for environmental management using science‑based assessments and to increase investments in climate adaptation for conflict‑affected countries.
Why it matters: The Secretary‑General’s comments and the WMO update put added urgency on COP30 negotiations by linking near‑term temperature trajectories to humanitarian consequences and security risks. The briefing highlighted adaptation, mitigation and forest protection as immediate priorities.
Background: The Secretary‑General’s remarks and the WMO report were presented at a UN briefing ahead of COP30 in Belém, where global leaders are discussing climate and nature, including a Tropical Forest Forever facility launch.
The Secretary‑General urged a “fundamental paradigm shift” to limit the overshoot’s magnitude and duration and to rapidly drive temperatures back down, saying every fraction of a degree avoided reduces hunger, displacement and loss, especially for those least responsible for climate change.
The spokesperson for the UN summarized the Secretary‑General’s remarks and noted the Secretary‑General’s planned appearances at the COP30 summit in Belém, including bilateral meetings with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Chinese leadership.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) issued a state‑of‑the‑climate update released at Belém, which the UN spokesperson said shows the 11‑year period from 2015 through 2025 will be the warmest on record. The WMO update reports rising concentrations of heat‑trapping greenhouse gases, record ocean heat content, and near‑record low Arctic and Antarctic sea ice extents. The spokesperson said 2025 is set to be either the second or third warmest year on record.
Inger Andersen, head of the UN Environment Programme, addressed the Security Council and warned that climate change and environmental degradation can exacerbate tensions and contribute to conflict. Andersen urged member states to rebuild national capacity for environmental management using science‑based assessments and to increase investments in climate adaptation for conflict‑affected countries.
Why it matters: The Secretary‑General’s comments and the WMO update put added urgency on COP30 negotiations by linking near‑term temperature trajectories to humanitarian consequences and security risks. The briefing highlighted adaptation, mitigation and forest protection as immediate priorities.
Background: The Secretary‑General’s remarks and the WMO report were presented at a UN briefing ahead of COP30 in Belém, where global leaders are discussing climate and nature, including a Tropical Forest Forever facility launch.
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