Global climate alarms and data woes put Potsdam Institute back in the spotlight amid new warming readings and a retracted study. PIK: Germany’s top climate-impact researchers, founded 1992 in Potsdam.
Recent studies confirm that global warming has accelerated significantly since 2015, with the Earth heating at about 0.35°C per decade—nearly double the previous rate. February 2026 saw extreme rainfall and flooding in Western Europe, while Arctic sea ice reached its third-lowest extent on record. Compound heat and drought extremes are rising rapidly, increasing risks of flash droughts and ecosystem tipping points.