The UN on Nov. 9 issued a warning in conjunction with a climate report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) indicating that extreme temperatures and weather events spurred by climate change will be exacerbated by this year’s El Niño and continue well into January and February of the next year.

The WMO report, titled the State of the Climate Update 2026, indicates that the year 2026 is on track to follow the trend of breaking heat and climate records—such as the warmest year on record, warmest ocean temperature on record, and highest sea level rise on record. WMO notes that this will only be made worse by the presence of El Niño, a weather pattern that releases heat from the ocean and can cause temperature surges, heavy rains and flooding, fires, and heightened storm intensity.

Due to the already high global temperature average and volatile nature of weather events, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been urged to declare the threatening effects of El Niño a public health emergency, particularly in developing and small island nations.

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have been at the frontlines of climate crisis discussions in recent years due to the intense and disproportionate consequences they face from climate change, despite contributing the least to the problem. UN Secretary-General António Guterres indicated in a press release accompanying the WMO report that,

We have entered a new age of climate extremes. A supersized El Niño is colliding with a planet already superheated by manmade climate change. Climate records keep falling. The human costs keep rising. And those least responsible are suffering first and worst. Leaders must get serious by cutting emissions faster, accelerating a just transition from fossil fuels and delivering the finance and protection vulnerable countries need.

The UN has continually expressed the need for countries to collaborate and implement a more justice-centered approach to addressing the climate crisis and aiding SIDS. Though there is no legally binding global obligation for States to provide aid to those facing the brunt of the climate crisis, the legal framework under Article 3 of the Paris Agreement and under an International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion strongly urge States to collaborate and diligently protect the environment worldwide. This is expected to be a large topic of negotiation at COP31.

WMO’s report was released on the first day of COP31, the annual UN climate change conference that brings together world leaders to address the climate crisis. Many historical decisions and pieces of international law were developed at previous COP conferences, namely the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. The report will help inform negotiations throughout the conference.

WMO expressed the need to address the implementation of improved forecasts and warning mechanisms so that those most affected by extreme weather can adequately adapt, while other human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International, have urged leaders to discuss a comprehensive and equitable fossil fuel phase out during the conference.

From JURIST, Nov. 10. Used with permission. 

Note: Peru has declared a state of emergency due to the current El Niño.

See our last report on the UN climate process.