2025 confirmed as third-warmest year on record, exceeding 1.5°C Paris threshold
The year 2025 was the third-warmest globally, with temperatures 1.47°C above pre-industrial levels, as the 2023–2025 period became the first three-year span to exceed the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C limit, according to EU climate data.
The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) confirmed Wednesday that 2025 ranks as the third-warmest year on record globally, with temperatures averaging 1.47°C above pre-industrial levels. Notably, the three-year period from 2023 to 2025 exceeded the Paris Agreement’s critical 1.5°C warming threshold—the first such streak in recorded history.
A Sustained Breach of the Paris Benchmark
While 2025 was slightly cooler than the record-setting years 2023 and 2024, its consistency underscores an accelerating warming trend. Scientists warn that, based on current rates, the long-term 1.5°C limit could be reached by 2030—more than a decade earlier than projected when the Paris accord was signed. ECMWF Director-General Florian Pappenberger stressed that “preparedness and prevention remain possible but only when action is guided by robust scientific evidence.”
Record Polar Heat and Global Climate Impacts
The report highlighted extreme regional warming, with Antarctica experiencing its warmest year on record and the Arctic its second-warmest. Europe saw its third-warmest year, and combined polar sea ice extent in February fell to the lowest level since satellite monitoring began. According to CAMS Director Laurence Rouil, “Human activity remains the dominant driver of the exceptional temperatures we are observing,” pointing to steadily rising atmospheric greenhouse gases over the past decade.
Widespread Heat Stress and Environmental Consequences
Half of the world’s land area endured more days of strong heat stress—defined as a “feels-like” temperature of 32°C or higher—contributing to extreme wildfires across Europe, North America, and other regions. These events degraded air quality and posed direct risks to public health. The data reinforces that warming is not uniform: while tropical temperatures dipped slightly compared to 2023–2024, polar regions and ocean surfaces reached near-record highs, influenced by both greenhouse gas accumulation and ocean variability patterns such as El Niño.
Comments you share on our site are a valuable resource for other users. Please be respectful of different opinions and other users. Avoid using rude, aggressive, derogatory, or discriminatory language.