
Earth Collecting More Heat Than It's Releasing, Intensifying Climate Imbalance
What Happened?
The World Meteorological Organization warns that Earth is absorbing more energy than it releases, leading to dangerous climate conditions. This imbalance has reached record levels, with significant implications for global weather patterns.
Key points
- Earth's energy imbalance reached its highest level in 65 years in 2025.
- Preliminary data suggests the imbalance increased further in early 2026.
- Human activities, particularly fossil fuel burning, disrupt the natural energy balance.
- Oceans absorb about 90% of the excess heat, leading to record ocean warmth.
- The WMO reports that 2026 may be the 10th consecutive year of record ocean temperatures.
- The imbalance contributes to rising sea levels, extreme weather, and food supply issues.
Key insights
- The increasing heat stored in oceans may lead to more intense tropical storms.
- Coastal communities are at heightened risk due to rising sea levels.
- The warming climate could exacerbate existing food and water shortages.
Impact on India
An estimated 146.5 million people in India were exposed to extreme heat during an April 2026 heatwave.
Why it matters
The growing energy imbalance could lead to severe weather events and impact food and water resources globally.
Source
India Today

