Earth collecting more heat than it's letting out, intensifying climate imbalance

The planet is absorbing more energy than it releases into space. Here's what the WMO's latest climate assessment reveals about the growing threat.People walk amid a heatwave as the sun shines. (Photo: Reuters)New Delhi,Nov 11, 2026 12:51 ISTEarth is absorbing more heat than it is releasing into space, and the growing imbalance is pushing the planet towards more dangerous climate conditions.The warning comes from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), which released its latest State of the Climate Update at COP31 in Antalya, Turkey, as world leaders and climate negotiators gathered to discuss how to tackle global warming.The report said that Earth's energy imbalance reached its highest level in the 65-year record in 2025, and that preliminary observations suggest it climbed to another record in the first seven months of 2026. A man rides a bike amid smog in New Delhi as the Sun rises. (Photo: PTI) In simpler words, the planet is taking in more energy from the Sun than it is sending back into space. Because the extra heat has to go somewhere, it is building up across the climate system, making the planet grow warmer. WHY IS EARTH COLLECTING MORE HEAT?Under normal conditions, Earth absorbs energy from sunlight and releases a similar amount back into space. This balance helps keep the planet's temperature relatively stable.But human activities have disrupted that balance. Plumes of smoke billow out of a coal power plant. (Photo: AP) Burning coal, oil and gas releases greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, which trap some of the heat Earth would otherwise send back into space. As their levels rise, less heat escapes, leaving the planet with a growing surplus.The oceans absorb about 90% of this excess heat because water can store far more energy than the air or land.The WMO said that 2026 is on track to be the 10th consecutive year of record ocean warmth.WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ENERGY IMBALANCE GROWS?The effects of this growing imbalance go well beyond warmer temperatures. A woman covers her child amid a heatwave on a summer day. (Photo: PTI) Hotter oceans expand, adding to rising sea levels, while melting glaciers and ice sheets push them higher still. Extra ocean heat can also intensify tropical storms and marine heatwaves, putting coastal communities and marine life at risk.The warming atmosphere also holds more moisture, contributing to heavier rainfall in some places, while other regions face worsening heat and drought.The WMO says these changes are already affecting food supplies, water resources and livelihoods.As an instance of this warming climate due to this phenomenon, WMO pointed to India, where it said that an estimated 146.5 million people were exposed to extreme heat during an April 2026 heatwave. Residents from nearby slum settlements sleep on a beach amid heatwave and power outage. (Photo: PTI) WHAT CAN COP31 DO?The solution to this problem is one of the things world leaders are trying to address in Turkey.At COP31, countries are discussing ways to speed up the shift to cleaner energy, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, strengthen climate resilience and increase financial support for vulnerable nations.The challenge is to turn these discussions into action that cuts greenhouse gas emissions.The energy imbalance is a warning that climate change is not just about how hot the air gets. It is about the growing amount of heat being stored across the planet, much of it hidden in the oceans, with consequences that can last for generations.- Ends