World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

Published date March 21, 2017

WMO Statement on the State of the Global Climate in 2016

  • Finds that in the atmosphere, the seas and around the poles, climate change is reaching disturbing new levels across the Earth
  • Finds that 2016 was not only the warmest year on record, but it saw atmospheric CO2 rise to a new high, while Arctic sea ice recorded a new winter low
  • Bases analysis on multiple international datasets maintained independently by global climate analysis centres and information submitted by dozens of WMO Members National Meteorological and Hydrological Services and Research Institutes and is an authoritative source of reference
  • Says that "extreme and unusual" climate and weather trends have continued into 2017

Even without a strong El Niño in 2017, we are seeing other remarkable changes across the planet that are challenging the limits of our understanding of the climate system. We are now in truly uncharted territory, said David Carlson, World Climate Research Programme Director at the WMO.

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