WMO statement on the status of the global climate in 2012

This document is the 2012 edition of WMO's internationally recognized series gathering together the key climate events of the year. It considers the natural variability caused by the El Niño/La Niña cycle, volcanic eruptions and other phenomena causing the sustained warming of the lower atmosphere, the record loss of Arctic sea ice, extreme cold and snow conditions in most of Europe and northern Africa, drought in the United States, tropical cyclones and coastal flooding brought by storms such as Hurricane Sandy and Typhoon Bopha in the Philippines, and flooding in West Africa and for a third consecutive year in Pakistan.

The document also calls for a better understanding of the changing behaviour of extreme weather and climate events as a consequence of global warming, and to assist countries in the most affected areas to better manage climate-related risks with improved climate early warning and climate watch systems.