Earth being ‘pushed beyond its limits’ as energy imbalance reaches record high - The Guardian

A new analysis shows Earth's energy imbalance—the difference between incoming solar radiation and outgoing heat—has reached record levels, indicating the planet is absorbing more heat than it is releasing. This energy imbalance is the fundamental driver of global warming, and the record measurement suggests climate change is accelerating despite international efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The imbalance creates a lag effect, meaning additional warming is already "locked in" even if emissions were to stop today, as the planet works to restore equilibrium. Scientists view this metric as a critical indicator of climate system stress, more direct than surface temperature records in measuring how much extra heat the Earth is trapping. The finding underscores why climate targets like limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius are increasingly difficult to achieve without rapid, large-scale reductions in fossil fuel use.