According to a report published by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ahead of the COP30 climate summit, the year 2025 is on track to become the second or third warmest year in recorded history. Last year was officially declared the hottest ever, while greenhouse gas concentrations reached their highest levels on record. As the UN Climate Change Conference COP30 opens in Belém, Brazil, pressure is mounting for governments to turn declarations into concrete action.
“Before every climate summit, a number of reports are released — such as the WMO’s on the state of the climate. These documents sum up the current scientific knowledge and serve as a full-scale mobilization for the political world to address the issue,” said Marcin Popkiewicz, physicist and editor of the Polish science portal Nauka o Klimacie, in an interview with the Newseria agency.
The planet continues to heat up
The WMO report “State of the Global Climate Update”, published in early November, shows that the climate has reached a point where all key indicators are flashing red. The warming trend persists, and 2025 could become the second or third warmest year on record. The average global surface temperature between January and August 2025 was about 1.42°C higher than the pre-industrial average. Last year, the increase reached 1.55°C, making it the warmest year in the 175-year history of measurements.
The report also notes that greenhouse gas concentrations and ocean heat content, both of which hit record highs in 2024, have continued to rise this year. Scientists from the WMO emphasize, however, that limiting global warming to 1.5°C by the end of the century remains both achievable and essential.
“All these scientific voices reminding us why this is urgent do help drive progress. It’s not just about breakthroughs at climate summits — they also serve as signposts for business and regulation, such as in the EU or China, guiding us toward an efficient economy based on clean energy,” Popkiewicz added.
Renewables are growing fast — but not fast enough
According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), last year the world added 585 GW of renewable energy capacity, representing over 92% of all new power installations, bringing total global capacity to 4,448 GW. This marks a record annual increase of 15.1%, with solar and wind energy accounting for nearly all of it.
Yet, impressive as these figures are, they fall short of what is needed to triple global renewable capacity by 2030 — the target set by international climate agreements. IRENA’s analysis shows that the annual growth rate must reach 16.6% to stay on track. As a result, climate negotiations are increasingly focused on shared responsibility and coordinated global action.
“COP30 and other climate talks are a platform for international cooperation, where nations — in the name of long-term common good — agree to actions that may be inconvenient in the short run,” Popkiewicz explained. “It’s like living around a lake where everyone dumps waste. The more we all do it, the dirtier and smellier the lake gets. Why should I build a treatment plant if 200 other households are still polluting? But if we all agree to stop dumping waste — to stop emitting greenhouse gases — then we can clean up the lake together.”
The UN calls for clear commitments
On the eve of COP30, Simon Stiell, UN Executive Secretary for Climate Change, emphasized on LinkedIn that the conference must achieve three key goals:
- Send a clear signal of full commitment to climate cooperation, meaning concrete agreements on all key issues.
- Accelerate implementation across all economic sectors.
- Link climate action with tangible benefits for people, such as cleaner air, safer energy, and lower costs.
The turning point for fossil fuels
“Wind and solar have become the cheapest sources of energy in the world,” Popkiewicz said. “The growth rate of clean energy production now exceeds the growth in global energy demand. This means that fossil fuels are reaching their peak usage. As more clean, affordable sources come online, the share of fossil fuels — and the emissions they produce — will begin to decline.”
He added that these technologies are evolving precisely because climate summits exist — and because nations make commitments that spur industries to act. “Companies are emerging to deliver zero-emission, and eventually cheaper, sources of energy that can be sold globally,” he noted.
Energy transformation gains momentum
According to IRENA, renewables now account for over 46% of the world’s total installed power capacity, confirming that the energy transition is accelerating, though still too slowly to meet 2030 targets.
“The world is moving away from fossil fuels not only for climate reasons but also for energy security and geopolitical stability,” Popkiewicz concluded. “By developing solar panels, batteries, and electric vehicles, we are not just protecting the climate — we’re also strengthening our economies and improving our energy security.”
In summary:
As COP30 begins in Belém, the world stands at a crossroads. The science is clear, the technology exists, and the economics of clean energy are increasingly favorable. What remains uncertain is whether the world’s governments will act with the urgency the data demands — before another “hottest year on record” becomes the new normal.
