What's happened
New data from global agencies confirm 2025 as the third hottest year on record, with global temperatures averaging around 1.47°C above preindustrial levels. This continues a three-year streak nearing the 1.5°C Paris Agreement limit, expected to be breached before 2030. Human-driven fossil fuel emissions are the primary cause, intensifying extreme weather worldwide.
What's behind the headline?
Persistent Warming Trend
The data from 2025 solidifies a clear and accelerating warming trend driven by human activity, primarily fossil fuel combustion. The fact that the last three years average above 1.5°C on a short-term basis signals that the world is rapidly approaching—and will soon surpass—the critical threshold set by the Paris Agreement.
Implications for Extreme Weather
This warming intensifies heatwaves, wildfires, hurricanes, and floods, as seen in 2025's catastrophic California wildfires and record hurricanes in the Atlantic. The increased frequency and severity of such events will strain infrastructure, economies, and public health systems globally.
Political and Social Challenges
Despite mounting evidence, political resistance persists, notably from the U.S. administration withdrawing from key climate initiatives. This hampers global cooperation and slows emission reduction efforts, risking further overshoot of temperature targets.
Forecast and Urgency
Without immediate, sharp reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, global temperatures will continue to rise, making some climate impacts irreversible. The next few years are critical for implementing policies that can manage the inevitable overshoot and mitigate long-term damage.
Relevance to Readers
The accelerating climate crisis will increasingly affect daily life through extreme weather, economic costs, and health risks. Individual and collective action on emissions and adaptation strategies will become essential to mitigate these impacts.
What the papers say
The Independent highlights the alarming reality that climate change impacts once expected decades ahead are already occurring, with Samantha Burgess noting, "Climate change is here. We are seeing event classes [today] that were forecast in climate models for the 2050s, 2060s, and 2070s." The Guardian echoes this urgency, reporting that "2025 had continued a three-year streak of ‘extraordinary global temperatures’" and quoting Carlo Buontempo stating, "We are bound to pass [the 1.5°C limit]; the choice we now have is how to best manage the inevitable overshoot and its consequences."
Reuters provides detailed temperature rankings, confirming 2025 as the third-warmest year and emphasizing that "1.5°C is not a cliff edge," but every fraction matters, especially for extreme weather, quoting Samantha Burgess again. AP News underscores the acceleration in warming, with Robert Rohde noting, "The last three years are indicative of an acceleration in the warming."
In contrast, the New York Times focuses on political setbacks, detailing President Trump's withdrawal from climate initiatives and his dismissal of climate science, which complicates global efforts. Sky News adds that despite political challenges, the scientific consensus remains firm, with Helen Clarkson stating, "We are now witnessing human-driven warming in real time."
Together, these sources provide a comprehensive picture: the scientific data is unequivocal about warming and its impacts, while political responses vary, influencing the pace and effectiveness of climate action.
How we got here
Since the 2015 Paris Agreement, nations pledged to limit warming to 1.5°C above preindustrial levels to avoid severe climate impacts. However, rising greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels have accelerated warming, with recent years breaking temperature records and increasing extreme weather events globally.
Go deeper
- What are the main causes of the recent temperature rise?
- How will breaching the 1.5°C limit affect extreme weather events?
- What political challenges are hindering global climate action?
Common question
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Is 2025 the Third-Hottest Year on Record and What Does It Mean?
2025 has been confirmed as one of the hottest years ever recorded, with global temperatures nearing critical climate thresholds. This raises important questions about how close we are to surpassing dangerous warming limits and what the future holds for our planet. Below, we explore the latest climate data, the implications of rising temperatures, and what actions are being taken to address this urgent issue.
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What Are the Biggest Climate Challenges in 2026?
As the planet continues to warm, 2026 presents new and urgent climate challenges. From rising temperatures to extreme weather events, understanding these issues is crucial. Here are some of the key climate concerns shaping our world this year and what they mean for the future.
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How Do Diplomatic Relations Impact Climate Policies?
Diplomatic relations between countries play a crucial role in shaping global climate policies. When nations cooperate, share resources, and align their goals, they can make significant progress in tackling environmental crises. Conversely, tensions and conflicts often hinder collective action, making it harder to implement effective climate solutions. Below, explore common questions about how diplomacy influences our planet's future.
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Is 2025 the Third-Hottest Year Ever? What You Need to Know
Recent data confirms that 2025 is one of the hottest years on record, raising questions about climate change and its rapid progression. Many wonder how this impacts our planet and what the future holds. Below, we answer common questions about global temperatures, climate limits, and what’s driving this alarming trend.
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Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
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The World Meteorological Organization is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 193 Member States and Territories. The President of the World Meteorological Congress, its supreme body, is Gerhard Adrian as a successor of David Grimes. The
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The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts is an independent intergovernmental organisation supported by most of the nations of Europe and is based at Shinfield Park, Reading, United Kingdom, and Bologna, Italy, and Bonn, Germany.
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The Copernicus Climate Change Service is one of the six thematic services provided by the European Union's Copernicus Programme.