Climate at record imbalance
The UN weather agency says the planet's climate is now 'more out of balance than at any time in observed history,' confirming 2015–2025 as the hottest decade with accelerating ocean warming. Diplomats warn that geopolitical fractures at G7 and COP30 can't be an excuse for delay — COP30's head said climate implementation 'can’t wait for consensus' — even as carbon‑removal technologies are highlighted as promising but still uncertain tools. (un.org) (indiaToday.in) (dialogue.earth) (earth.org)
WMO’s State of the Global Climate 2025 finds Earth’s energy imbalance hit a record high in the 65‑year observational record and records 2025 as roughly 1.43°C above the 1850–1900 baseline. ( wmo.int ) The report calculates the ocean has been absorbing heat equivalent to about 18 times annual human energy use each year over the past two decades and links that concentrated ocean warming to higher sea‑level and storm‑intensity risks, with “extreme weather” in 2025 affecting millions and costing billions. ( wmo.int ) COP30 president André Corrêa do Lago has urged a shift toward a two‑tier model—retaining consensus for decisions while creating an “implementation” track so action does not wait for unanimity—saying “for decisions you need consensus, for implementation you don’t.” ( dialogue.earth ) The COP30 Presidency formalised post‑summit priorities in an Executive Report published 19 March 2026 that maps commitments, finance pledges and follow‑up steps intended to translate Belém outcomes into on‑the‑ground programmes. ( unfccc.int ) Diplomacy faces headwinds as G7 cohesion is tested by concurrent security crises and policy divisions ahead of the June 15–17, 2026 Évian summit, undermining expectations of swift, coordinated climate finance or fossil‑fuel transition frameworks. ( elysee.fr ) Analysts say carbon‑dioxide removal must scale roughly 25–100× by 2030 to align with many net‑zero pathways, but pathways and costs vary widely—biochar projects are estimated around $80–$200 per tonne while first‑of‑a‑kind direct air capture remains far more expensive without further innovation and scale. ( weforum.org ) Governments and investors are already buying removals—Airbus pre‑purchased 400,000 tonnes from 1PointFive for delivery over four years—yet peer‑reviewed research warns policy bets on rapid CDR scale‑up risk delaying emissions cuts and could raise stranded‑asset exposure by roughly 38% if deployment falls short. ( airbus.com ) ( nature.com )
