WFP Warns Zimbabwe’s Farmers as Global Temperatures Approach 1.5°C Threshold

Zimbabwe’s farmers and vulnerable communities face mounting climate risks as global temperatures continue to rise, with the World Food Programme (WFP) warning that every fraction of a degree matters in limiting the impacts of global warming.

The warning comes as the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported that 2026 is on course to become one of the four warmest years on record, with global average temperatures between January and September reaching approximately 1.47°C above pre-industrial levels.

In a message linked to the COP31 climate conference, WFP Zimbabwe said that exceeding the 1.5°C threshold would not make further climate action meaningless, stressing the importance of limiting additional warming, particularly for countries whose livelihoods depend heavily on climate-sensitive agriculture.

“Global temperatures may exceed 1.5°C, but action now can still reduce risks. For Zimbabwe’s farmers and vulnerable communities, every fraction of a degree matters,” WFP Zimbabwe said.

The WMO’s State of the Climate 2026 Update, released on November 9 during the opening of COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, warned that a developing El Niño could intensify global warming and increase the frequency and severity of extreme weather events into 2027.

The report said the four years from 2023 to 2026 were on course to become the warmest four-year period since records began, while the global average temperature between January and September 2026 stood at approximately 1.47°C above the 1850–1900 baseline.

The warming trend is being compounded by rising greenhouse gas concentrations, with carbon dioxide levels reaching approximately 426.8 parts per million in 2025, representing a 53 per cent increase from pre-industrial levels.

WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo said the developing El Niño was adding to an already warming planet and increasing the risks associated with extreme weather events.

“El Niño doesn't add new heat to the planet. It releases heat from the ocean, which is the warmest ever measured. There is simply more heat available to release,” Saulo said.

She warned that heatwaves, tropical cyclones and rainstorms were intensifying faster than historical weather patterns had prepared communities to withstand.

The report also highlighted growing threats to agriculture and food security, noting that El Niño was already increasing risks during key agricultural seasons, particularly in areas experiencing high levels of food insecurity and heavy dependence on rain-fed farming.

For Zimbabwe, where agricultural production and rural livelihoods are highly exposed to rainfall variability, the warning raises concerns about the ability of vulnerable farming communities to withstand increasingly unpredictable weather conditions.

The WMO said extreme weather events were already undermining food security, deepening poverty and contributing to displacement across different regions.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on world leaders to accelerate climate action and provide vulnerable countries with the resources needed to respond to worsening conditions.

“We have entered a new age of climate extremes. A supersized El Niño is colliding with a planet already superheated by manmade climate change. Climate records keep falling. The human costs keep rising. And those least responsible are suffering first and worst,” Guterres said.

He called for faster emissions reductions, a just transition away from fossil fuels, increased climate finance and greater protection for vulnerable countries.

The WMO report further found that the number of countries reporting multi-hazard early warning systems had increased from 56 in 2015 to 136 in 2025, highlighting the growing importance of forecasting and preparedness in reducing climate-related risks.

The organisation said sustained weather observations and early warnings were essential in helping governments, communities and economies navigate the consequences of a rapidly changing climate.