The decade spanning from 2011 to 2020 has etched a distressing record in history as the warmest decade ever recorded, as confirmed by the latest report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The report paints a grim picture of accelerating climate change, attributing this alarming trend to surging concentrations of greenhouse gases. The consequence: record-breaking temperatures, unprecedented ice melt, and soaring sea levels that pose a severe threat to our planet. Polar regions are experiencing the brunt of this acceleration, with glaciers thinning at an alarming pace and the Antarctic shedding nearly 75% more ice compared to the preceding decade. This escalating ice loss intensifies the looming risk of coastal areas being submerged, a grim prospect that necessitates immediate attention. The report, however, highlights a glimmer of hope in the successful reduction of the Antarctic ozone hole, achieved through collective global efforts. Yet, this positive development stands in stark contrast to the urgent call for action outlined in the report. It emphasizes the pressing need for swift and decisive measures to curtail greenhouse gas emissions, stressing that the ramifications of climate change are already wreaking havoc through extreme weather events, impacting food security, displacing populations, and impeding progress towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Despite advancements in predicting and responding to disasters, economic losses due to extreme events have surged, demanding a substantial sevenfold increase in climate finance to achieve climate objectives. Released during COP28, the report unequivocally stresses the imperative need for aggressive climate action to cap the global temperature rise at 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Backed by meticulous data analyses and expert assessments, the report underscores the criticality of sustainable reductions in emissions as the key to stabilizing our climate. The findings serve as an urgent wake-up call, urging immediate and comprehensiv e efforts to combat climate change and safeguard our planet's future. Source: National News Agency - Lebanon