Earth’s Thermostat Is Stuck on High

 


Earth’s Thermostat Is Stuck on High

You know when you turn the heating on at home, forget about it, and suddenly realise you’re living in a sauna?

Well… Earth has just done that. Except no one can find the thermostat.

Recent findings from the State of the Climate report show that the planet’s energy imbalance has reached a record high. In simple terms, more energy (heat) is coming in from the Sun than is leaving. And the excess? It doesn’t just disappear.

It builds up.

Where is all that heat going?

You might expect the air to be getting dramatically hotter (and yes, it is), but the real story is happening somewhere less obvious:

The oceans.

Around 90% of the excess heat is being absorbed by the oceans. They are acting like a giant sponge — quietly soaking up the problem.

But here’s the catch:

  • Warm water expands → sea levels rise
  • Marine ecosystems struggle → coral bleaching, fish decline
  • Weather systems gain energy → stronger storms, heavier rain

So while it might feel like “it’s not that bad yet,” the oceans are effectively storing trouble for later.

What does “energy imbalance” actually mean?

Think of Earth like a bank account:

  • Energy in (sunlight)
  • Energy out (heat radiated back to space)

For thousands of years, this was roughly balanced.

Now?

We’re running a persistent surplus — like putting everything on a credit card and never paying it off.

The main reason?
Greenhouse gases trapping heat — like adding extra insulation to a house that’s already warm.

Why this matters more than headlines suggest

This isn’t just another “warm year” story.

An increasing energy imbalance means:

  • Climate change is accelerating, not stabilising
  • Even if emissions stopped tomorrow, stored heat keeps working
  • Extreme weather becomes more frequent and intense

It’s a bit like turning a supertanker — even if you stop the engine, it keeps moving.

So what can we actually do?

Here’s the part where it’s easy to feel powerless — but that’s not entirely true.

At a personal level:

  • Reduce energy waste (insulation, efficient appliances)
  • Generate your own power where possible (solar — I can vouch for that one!)
  • Rethink consumption (less waste, longer-lasting products)

At a bigger level:

  • Support policies that reduce emissions
  • Push for smarter infrastructure (renewables, storage, efficiency)
  • Ask awkward questions — they matter

Final thought (from the river…)

When I’m out on the Thames and misjudge the current, the boat doesn’t immediately spin out of control.

It drifts.

Slowly at first… then faster… until suddenly you realise you’re no longer in control.

That’s where we are with the climate.

We’re not at the crash yet — but we are definitely drifting.

And the longer we leave it, the harder it is to steer back.

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