Climate change continued its relentless march in 2020, which is on track to be one of the three warmest years on record. 2011-2020 will be the warmest decade on record, with the warmest six years all being since 2015, according to the World Meteorological Organization.

The Climate COP26 summit will bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. With the UK as President, COP26 takes place in Glasgow.

Through its role in supporting the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON), the IOC helps Member States to coordinate the resources from different countries and organizations needed to understand and tackle the problem of ocean acidification. Every year the ocean absorbs about 25% of human-made carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, increasing acidity as this CO₂ dissolves in the seawater.

Climate change has not stopped for COVID-19. Greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere are at record levels and continue to increase. Emissions are heading in the direction of pre-pandemic levels following a temporary decline caused by the lockdown and economic slowdown. The world is set to see its warmest five years on record – in a trend which is likely to continue - and is not on track to meet agreed targets to keep global temperature increase well below 2 °C or at 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels.