2025 set to be second or third warmest year on record, continuing exceptionally high warming trend – World Meteorological Organization WMO

Global Climate Status Report 2025: Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Global Temperature Anomalies and SDG 13 (Climate Action)

The global climate continues to exhibit trends that significantly challenge the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 13 (Climate Action). Analysis of global mean near-surface temperatures reveals critical data points for 2025.

• The period from January to August 2025 recorded a global mean temperature of 1.42 °C ± 0.12 °C above the pre-industrial average. This is a slight decrease from the 2024 average of approximately 1.55°C ± 0.13 °C, attributed to the transition from warming El Niño to neutral/La Niña conditions.
• Despite the marginal decrease in the annual average, an extended 26-month period from June 2023 to August 2025 was characterized by record-breaking monthly temperatures.
• This persistent warming trend directly undermines efforts to limit the global temperature increase as outlined in the Paris Agreement and is a primary obstacle to fulfilling the objectives of SDG 13.

Ocean Health and its Impact on SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 13 (Climate Action)

The state of the world’s oceans is a critical indicator of climate change and poses a direct threat to marine biodiversity and coastal communities, impacting SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

• Ocean heat content continued its upward trajectory in 2025, surpassing the record values of 2024. The accelerated rate of ocean warming over the past two decades indicates a rapid accumulation of surplus energy within the Earth system.
• This warming has severe consequences that impede SDG progress:
  1. Degradation of marine ecosystems and loss of biodiversity, directly conflicting with the targets of SDG 14.
  2. Weakening of the ocean’s capacity as a carbon sink, which exacerbates climate change and complicates efforts under SDG 13.
  3. Intensification of tropical storms and acceleration of sea-level rise, which threaten the safety and sustainability of coastal communities central to SDG 11.

Cryosphere Decline: A Threat to SDG 6, SDG 11, and SDG 13

The rapid melting of the cryosphere—including glaciers and sea ice—has profound implications for global water resources, sea levels, and climate stability, affecting SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 11, and SDG 13.

• Sea Level Rise: The long-term rate of sea-level rise nearly doubled from 2.1 mm/year (1993-2002) to 4.1 mm/year (2016-2025). This trend poses an existential threat to low-lying coastal areas and island nations, undermining the resilience goals of SDG 11.
• Sea Ice: In 2025, Arctic sea-ice extent reached its lowest maximum on record in March, while Antarctic sea-ice extent was the third lowest on record for both its annual minimum and maximum. This loss disrupts polar ecosystems and global weather patterns, complicating climate action under SDG 13.
• Glaciers: The 2023/2024 hydrological year marked the third consecutive year of net mass loss for all monitored glaciers, with a record loss equivalent to 1.2 mm of global mean sea-level rise. This trend threatens the long-term water security for billions of people, jeopardizing SDG 6.

Greenhouse Gas Concentrations and the Urgency for SDG 13

Atmospheric concentrations of key greenhouse gases continue to rise, indicating a failure to curb emissions and representing the most significant driver of climate change, directly opposing the core mission of SDG 13.

• Record-high concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, and nitrous oxide were observed in 2024, with data suggesting further increases in 2025.
• The atmospheric concentration of CO2 reached 423.9 parts per million (ppm) in 2024, a 53% increase from pre-industrial levels and a record annual increase of 3.5 ppm from 2023.
• This unabated rise in greenhouse gases underscores the urgent need for accelerated global action on emissions reduction to achieve any meaningful progress on SDG 13.

Extreme Weather Events: Setbacks for SDG 1, SDG 2, and SDG 11

Throughout 2025, extreme weather events caused widespread devastation, reversing development gains and severely impacting efforts to achieve SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

• Flooding in numerous countries across Africa and Asia displaced populations, destroyed crops, and exacerbated poverty, directly hindering progress on SDG 1 and SDG 2.
• Wildfires in Europe and North America, alongside extreme heat globally, damaged infrastructure and ecosystems, posing risks to human health and community stability as outlined in SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 11.
• Deadly tropical cyclones caused significant loss of life and economic damage, further straining the capacity of affected nations to build resilient infrastructure.

Renewable Energy Transition and its Link to SDG 7 and SDG 13

The transition to renewable energy is fundamental to achieving both SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13. However, climate change itself is impacting the stability of energy systems.

• Record global heat in 2024 drove energy demand 4% above the 1991–2020 baseline, highlighting the need for climate-resilient energy infrastructure.
• As renewable capacity expands, integrating climate data is essential for planning and operations to ensure energy systems are flexible and robust in a changing climate, thereby securing the long-term viability of SDG 7.

Advancing Climate Services and Early Warning Systems for SDG Resilience

Strengthening climate services and early warning systems is a critical adaptation strategy that supports multiple SDGs by building resilience against climate impacts. This work is central to SDG 13 and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

• Climate Services: Nearly two-thirds of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) now provide advanced climate services, a marked improvement that helps translate global climate commitments into tangible local progress.
• Early Warning Systems (MHEWS): The number of countries with MHEWS has more than doubled since 2015. However, 40% of countries still lack coverage. The UN’s Early Warnings for All initiative aims to close this gap by 2027, a crucial step for protecting vulnerable populations and safeguarding progress on SDG 1, SDG 3, and SDG 11.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The entire article is centered on climate change, its physical manifestations, and the global response. It discusses rising temperatures, greenhouse gas concentrations, melting ice, and sea-level rise, which are the core concerns of SDG 13. It also covers climate-related extreme events and the need for climate services and early warning systems.
2. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • The article explicitly mentions the impact of climate change on marine environments. It highlights rising “Ocean heat content,” which leads to the “degradation of marine ecosystems, loss of biodiversity, and a weakening of the ocean’s role as a carbon sink.” This directly connects to the goal of conserving and sustainably using the oceans and marine resources.
3. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • The “Renewable Energy” section discusses the global expansion of renewable energy capacity as a response to climate change. It emphasizes the need to integrate climate data into energy planning to build resilient and flexible energy systems, linking climate action with the transition to clean energy.
4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The article’s discussion of “Extreme events” such as “flooding in many countries in Africa and Asia” and “deadly tropical cyclones” causing “massive economic and social upheaval and loss of life” relates to making human settlements resilient. Furthermore, the rising sea levels directly threaten coastal communities. The push for “Early Warning Systems” is a key strategy for protecting communities from these hazards.
5. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • While less direct, the impacts described have clear implications for terrestrial ecosystems. The mention of “wildfires in Europe and North America” and the massive loss of ice from “glaciers” affects freshwater resources and land-based habitats, connecting to the protection of ecosystems and biodiversity on land.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 13 (Climate Action):
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. This is addressed through the discussion on “Extreme events” and the critical need for “Early Warning Systems” to mitigate their impact.
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The article mentions that “climate insights… are emerging as indispensable components in the overwhelming majority of updated Nationally Determined Contributions,” which are the core of national climate planning.
   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning. This is supported by the sections on “Climate services” and “Early Warning Systems,” which highlight the progress and remaining gaps in providing essential climate information and warnings.
2. Under SDG 14 (Life Below Water):
   • Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts. The article’s focus on rising “Ocean heat content” and its consequences, such as the “degradation of marine ecosystems” and “loss of biodiversity,” directly relates to the urgency of this target.
3. Under SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy):
   • Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. The “Renewable Energy” section explicitly discusses the context of “global renewable energy capacity” expanding, which is the central theme of this target.
4. Under SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities):
   • Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters. This is directly relevant to the section on “Extreme events,” which notes that events in 2025 “caused massive economic and social upheaval and loss of life,” and the section on “Early Warning Systems” which are designed to reduce these impacts.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators for SDG 13 (Climate Action):
   • Global Mean Temperature: The article provides a precise measurement: “1.42 °C ± 0.12 °C above the pre-industrial average” for Jan-Aug 2025. This is a primary indicator of climate change.
   • Greenhouse Gas Concentrations: The article states that CO2 concentrations reached “423.9 ppm in 2024,” with a record increase of “3.5 ppm” from 2023 to 2024.
   • Sea Level Rise: The rate of rise is quantified, having nearly doubled from “2.1 millimeters per year between 1993 and 2002 to 4.1 mm/year between 2016 and 2025.”
   • Sea Ice Extent: Specific figures are given, such as the Arctic sea-ice maximum of “13.8 million km2” (a record low) and the Antarctic minimum of “2.1 million km2” (third lowest).
   • Glacier Mass Loss: The global annual mass balance is measured at “−1.3 m of water equivalent, or 450 gigatonnes.”
   • Coverage of Early Warning Systems: The article provides data on the number of countries with MHEWSs, which has “more than doubled – from 56 to 119 in 2024,” while noting that “40% of countries still lack” them.
2. Indicators for SDG 14 (Life Below Water):
   • Ocean Heat Content: The article states that “Ocean heat content continued to rise in 2025… above the record 2024 values,” serving as a direct indicator of thermal stress on marine ecosystems.
3. Indicators for SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy):
   • Energy Demand Anomaly: While not a direct measure of renewable capacity, the article notes that record heat “drove energy demand to 4% above the 1991–2020 baseline,” which is a climate-informed indicator relevant to energy planning.
4. Indicators for SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities):
   • Impact of Extreme Events: The article implies indicators by mentioning “massive economic and social upheaval and loss of life” from floods, wildfires, and cyclones, which are the types of impacts Target 11.5 aims to reduce.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: wmo.int