Scientists Forecast 2026 as the Hottest Year on Record, Climate Summits May Need Cooling Towers

Scientists say 2026 could become the hottest year on record, a warning that arrives as the COP31 climate summit opens.

The warning is tied to a strong El Niño that is expected to push global temperatures higher and keep extreme weather rolling into 2027, according to a new World Meteorological Organisation report that places 2026 among the four hottest years ever recorded.

If the heat keeps climbing, delegates may find the conference rooms feeling more like saunas than meeting halls.

The report also notes accelerated ice melt, meaning the iconic icebergs that often appear in climate‑diplomacy photos could shrink further.

Some observers have playfully suggested that future talks might need a refrigerated bunker, though organisers say they will simply adapt the agenda.

Climate advocates stress that immediate action is needed, as the planet’s heat budget shows few signs of easing.