A new United Nations climate report has found that Earth's energy balance is more disrupted than at any point in recorded history, with the planet retaining increasing amounts of heat rather than reflecting it back to space.

The report attributes this growing imbalance to the continued burning of fossil fuels, which is trapping heat in Earth's atmosphere, oceans, and land systems. According to the U.N. weather agency, this represents the most severe departure from normal climate patterns on record.

The findings come as meteorologists track the potential development of an El Niño weather pattern, which could further complicate global climate conditions. El Niño events typically bring warmer temperatures and altered precipitation patterns across much of the globe.

The energy imbalance occurs when Earth absorbs more solar radiation than it releases back into space, causing the planet's climate system to accumulate excess heat. This fundamental disruption affects weather patterns, ocean temperatures, and atmospheric conditions worldwide.

The report underscores ongoing concerns about the pace of climate change and the effectiveness of current efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel consumption.