UN "The top 10 hottest years in history are the last 10 years."

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres urged the world to cut greenhouse gas emissions, saying that the top 10 hottest years on Earth have been in the past 10 years, including this year.

"The global climate breakdown is happening in real time and we must not waste any more time," Guterres said in a statement in a World Meteorological Organization (WMO) press release.

President Guterres also officially confirmed that the average global temperature has reached a new record high this year.

According to the WMO's announcement at the 29th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP29) last month, the average global surface temperature between January and September this year was 1.54 degrees Celsius (±0.13 degrees Celsius error, hereinafter referred to as Celsius) higher than the average between 1850 and 1900, pre-industrial times.

The WMO will release specific figures on average global temperatures in January next year.

The WMO diagnosed that the number of "dangerous heat waves" around the world has increased by an average of 41 days this year.

The WMO usually defines a day when the daily maximum temperature is 32 to 35 degrees Celsius or the night minimum temperature is 25 degrees Celsius or more as a dangerous heat wave, and the duration must be at least three days and the temperature felt, regional climate characteristics, and rapid temperature increases are comprehensively considered.

Countries with many dangerous heat wave days are usually small island countries or developing countries, often vulnerable to climate change, the WMO added.

"In 2025, countries should significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support the transition to renewable energy to move the world on a safer path," Guterres said. "This is both possible and essential."