Climate advocacy group 350.org has reacted to the latest report by the World Meteorological Organization, warning that the worsening climate crisis could intensify the humanitarian and energy challenges already aggravated by rising oil and gas prices linked to the Iran conflict.

In its newly released State of the Global Climate 2025 report, the WMO said the period from 2015 to 2025 represents the hottest 11 years ever recorded. The report noted that weather patterns are becoming increasingly extreme, with daily conditions growing more volatile and affecting millions of people worldwide while triggering billions of dollars in economic losses.

The report also revealed that the rise in annual carbon dioxide concentration in 2024 was the highest ever recorded, largely driven by ongoing fossil fuel emissions. This comes amid a global energy crisis that the International Energy Agency has described as the worst in decades. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has also blamed the world’s continued dependence on fossil fuels for worsening climate instability and threatening global security.

According to the UN World Food Programme, a prolonged Iran conflict could push an additional 45 million people into acute hunger as fuel and food prices continue to rise. At the same time, scientists have warned that El Niño conditions could drive temperatures even higher this year, leading to more intense heatwaves, droughts and flooding.

Reacting to the development, 350.org Executive Director Anne Jellema said escalating costs of fuel, fertiliser and food could deal a severe blow to millions of vulnerable families in the Global South who are already struggling with the effects of climate change.

She called on governments to prevent oil and gas companies from making excessive profits from the crisis by imposing windfall taxes and using the proceeds to shield citizens from rising costs. She also urged leaders to invest part of such revenues in renewable energy solutions such as rooftop and balcony solar systems to help reduce household energy bills and improve national energy security.

Jellema added that governments must move quickly to break their reliance on fossil fuels, which she described as both destructive to the planet and a source of repeated global crises.

Meanwhile, 350.org has called on countries to participate in the first global conference focused on transitioning away from fossil fuels, scheduled to hold in Santa Marta from April 24 to 29. The event will be co-hosted by the governments of Colombia and the Netherlands and is expected to advance discussions on a global fossil fuel phaseout first agreed upon during the COP28 UN climate talks.