UN warns 'planet on the brink' after warmest decade on record

Global heat records were "smashed" last year, the U.N. confirmed Tuesday, with 2023 rounding out the hottest decade on record, as heatwaves stalked oceans and key glaciers suffered record ice loss.

"The state of the climate in 2023 gave ominous new significance to the phrase 'off the charts'," the World Meteorological Organization said as it published an annual report on the global climate, confirming that last year was the hottest on record, and 2014-2023 was the hottest decade ever measured.

The fresh climate report shows "a planet on the brink", the U.N. chief warned Tuesday.

"Earth is issuing a distress call," Antonio Guterres said, concluding that the report by the U.N.'s World Meteorological Organization showed that fossil fuel pollution was causing spiralling "climate chaos".