WMO Statement to COP30-SBSTA63

The WMO, along with its co-sponsored bodies, the IPCC, GCOS, and WCRP, continues to contribute climate observations and scientific information to support the negotiation process. 

The WMO Greenhouse Gas Bulletin 2024 reported that the concentration of carbon dioxide in 2024 was 153% of pre-industrial levels at 423.9 ppm. From 2023 to 2024, the global average concentration of CO2 surged by 3.5 parts per million, the largest increase since modern measurements started in 1957.

The WMO State of the Climate 2025 Update, issued last week, indicates that January to August 2025 has been 1.42±0.12°C above the pre-industrial average. An unprecedented streak of high temperatures, combined with last year's record increase in greenhouse gas levels, makes it clear that it will be virtually impossible to limit global warming to 1.5 °C in the next few years without temporarily overshooting this target. 

In 2025, Arctic sea-ice extent reached the lowest maximum in the satellite record, at approximately 13.8 million square kilometres. In the Antarctic, both the minimum and maximum sea-ice extents were the third lowest in the satellite record. The year 2024 set a new record for annual global mean sea level. Preliminary 2025 data show that the global mean sea level has dropped slightly, likely a temporary behaviour related to internal climate variability. The WMO State of Global Water Resources 2024 report noted that the water cycle continues to become increasingly erratic.

Only one third of the river basins worldwide had “normal” streamflow conditions. On the plus side, the Early Warnings for All initiative is moving forward with pace. Since 2015, the number of countries reporting multi-hazard early warning systems (MHEWSs) has more than doubled – from 56 to 119 in 2024. However, 40% of countries still lack MHEWSs, and urgent action is needed to close these remaining gaps.

The United Nations Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF) is innovating climate finance through the Systematic Observation Impact Bond that will be announced by the COP Presidency later this week.

As of September 2025, the Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) initiative has mobilized USD 150 million, with 19 projects ongoing and 16 small grants accelerated technical assistance financing. It has leveraged an additional USD 890 million through partners such as the World Bank and the Green Climate Fund. CREWS support has improved early warning access and services for 397 million people in climate-vulnerable countries, including at least 23 countries that are categorized as fragile, conflict and violence affected.

To conclude, WMO will continue to provide science-based climate monitoring to anchor COP negotiations in authoritative evidence, and to support both mitigation and adaptation.