Top meteorologist warns humanity faces ‘absolute extinction’
Humanity faces “certain extinction” unless fossil fuel use is urgently reduced, a top meteorologist warns.
Accelerating climate instability and rising global temperatures are major risks to the Earth’s population, said meteorologist Jim Dale of the British Weather Service, who issued the warning following new data from the World Meteorological Organization that found the Earth’s climate system is now more unstable than at any point in recorded history. According to the United Nations agency, 2025 was among the three hottest years on record, with global average temperatures reaching around 1.43C above the pre-industrial baseline.
Scientists say this brings the world closer to crossing the critical 1.5C threshold, with increasingly severe climate impacts expected beyond that threshold.
The report also highlighted record-high concentrations of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, largely resulting from continued fossil fuel use.
Jim told the Daily Mirror: “The big story is what the WMO has uncovered is the world’s energy imbalance and temperatures, particularly ocean temperatures, being the highest they have been for 125,000 years.
“This points to extinction. I don’t say this lightly. I say this in absolute terms. If things continue this way, then we are facing potential extinction as a human race.”
The World Meteorological Organization reported that 2025 will be marked by extreme weather events such as intense heat waves, widespread forest fires, hurricanes, floods and heavy rains.
A record number of bushfires were recorded in the summer months in England alone, while major tourist destinations such as Greece and Türkiye were forced to close their airports due to uncontrolled fires.
Elsewhere, the Atlantic hurricane season has produced three Category 5 storms – only the second time on record – with Hurricane Melissa causing widespread devastation in Jamaica and Cuba, killing nearly 100 people and causing damage worth an estimated £6.5bn.
Floods in India and Pakistan killed nearly 2,000 people in June 2025, while heavy rains in July displaced nearly 80,000 residents in Beijing.
Scientists also predict that a potential El Niño event will occur later this year, which could intensify Pacific Ocean surface temperatures and intensify global warming, potentially making 2027 the hottest year on record.
Jim added: “What’s going to happen to El Nino? It’s going to last from summer to winter. Once that kicks in… you’ve already seen what’s happening in the United States with tremendous temperatures in places like Arizona, 5C above record temperatures.”
“We’re in March… it’s March. It’s not July. It’s just completely unbalanced.”
The expert added: “If we don’t get our hands on this we’re going to be in serious trouble. Even though we’re protected to some extent in the temperate world we live in, it’s only a one-way street. Things are going to get worse and worse. That’s the big story.”
“If we don’t tackle fossil fuel use and therefore temperatures, your children and grandchildren will face a truly dire future.
“But it would require a huge, huge movement – like pulling the Titanic up from the sea floor – but we would have to drag it up and turn it upside down, which might do some good.
“We’re just at the beginning, and eventually there will be major catastrophes – more than we’ve seen. That’s what’s going to change the balance and people’s awareness, sort of like a war coming at them.”
“It sounds like I’m preaching the Apocalypse. And honestly, to some extent I am. Unless the tables turn. Unless we get our act together.”
