WMO-No. 1347 © World Meteorological Organization, 2024 The right of publication in print, electronic and any other form and in any language is reserved by WMO.Short extracts from WMO publications may be reproduced without authorization, provided that thecomplete source is clearly indicated. Editorial correspondence and requests to publish, reproduce Chair, Publications BoardWorld Meteorological Organization (WMO)7 bis, avenue de la PaixP.O. Box 2300CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland Tel.: +41 (0) 22 730 84 03Email:publications@wmo.int ISBN 978-92-63-11347-4 Cover illustration: A melting glacier with chunks of ice breaking apart. The background captures the consequences of globalwarming on ice formations. Generative AI. Par Regina. N° de fichier: 640624130 NOTE The designations employed in WMO publications and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression ofany opinion whatsoever on the part of WMO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, The mention of specific companies or products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by WMO in preference toothers of a similar nature which are not mentioned or advertised. Contents Key messages...........................................ii Global climate indicators. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Baselines............................................1Greenhouse gases. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Climate Monitoring and Renewable EnergyStratospheric ozone and ozone-depleting gases. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19Short-term climate drivers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Food security. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 The State of Climate Finance30 List of contributors.......................................40 Endnotes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 We need your feedback This year, the WMO team has launched a process to gather feedback on the State of theClimate reports and areas for improvement. Once you have finished reading the publication, Key messages 2023 was the warmest year on record at 1.45 ± 0.12 °C above the pre-industrialaverage. Concentrations of the three main greenhouse gases – carbon dioxide,methane and nitrous oxide – reached record-high observed levels in2022. Real-time data show that levels continued to increase in 2023. Ocean heat content reached its highest level in the 65-yearobservational record. Global mean sea level reached a record high.The rate ofsea-level rise in the past 10 years (2014–2023) has morethan doubled since the first decade of the satellite record Antarctic sea-ice extent reached an absolute recordlow in February.The annual maximum extent was Preliminary data from the global set of referenceglaciers for the hydrological year 2022–2023 show theyexperienced the largest loss of ice on record (1950– Glaciers in Switzerland have lost about 10% of theirremaining volume in the past two years. Extreme weather continued to lead to severe socioeconomicimpacts. Extreme heat affected many parts of the world.Wildfires in Canada, Europe and Hawaii (United States ofAmerica) led to loss of life, the destruction of homes andlarge-scale air pollution. Flooding associated with extreme Food security, population displacement and impacts on vulnerablepopulations continued to be of mounting concern in 2023, with weatherand climate hazards exacerbating the situation in many parts of the world. Foreword The climate crisis is the defining challenge thathumanity faces. TheWMO State of the Global Climate 2023report confirms that the year 2023 broke every singleclimate indicator. It was by far the warmest year on record.The global average temperature in 2023 was1.45 ± 0.12 °C above the 1850–1900 average. Neverhave we been so close – albeit on a temporary Concentrations of greenhouse gases continuedto rise. Ocean heat content and sea level reachedrecord observed highs, and the rate of increase is observed lows. Key glaciers suffered record losses. Heatwaves, floods, droughts, wildfires and intense tropical cyclones wreaked havoc onevery continent and caused huge socioeconomic losses. There were particularly devastating Extreme climate conditions exacerbated humanitarian crises, with millions experiencing acutefood insecurity and hundreds of thousands displaced from their homes. WMO is committed to increasing collaboration with the international community to confrontthe enormity of this challenge. WMO and its Members are expanding life-saving early warning services to achieve the ground-breaking Early Warnings for All initiative. A new Global Greenhouse Gas Watch (GGGW) seeksto provide scientifically based information for climate change mitigation. The transition to To succeed, it is imperative to leverage