Global temperatures continue to rise, with 2025 officially recorded as the third hottest year ever, according to Europe’s Copernicus climate change service.
This ranking makes the last 11 years the 11 warmest years in recorded history. Despite the cooling effects of the Pacific La Niña, 2025 still set remarkable heat records. Experts noted that January 2025 was the warmest January on record. The Antarctic also experienced its highest annual average temperature.
Samantha Burgess of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts said these long-term trends are felt most through extreme weather events. “Society experiences climate change through wildfires, floods, and storms, not just average temperatures,” she added.
The third hottest year highlights the ongoing risks of global warming. For instance, wildfires in Los Angeles in January 2025 killed around 440 people. Floods in Southeast Asia in December claimed over 1,750 lives. Additionally, the Atlantic Ocean recorded three Category 5 storms, only the second time in history this has occurred.
According to the report, the world may permanently exceed the critical 1.5°C limit set by the Paris Agreement before the decade ends, earlier than previously forecasted. This limit is considered crucial to avoiding catastrophic climate impacts.
Experts warn that while some warming is unavoidable due to existing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, urgent action is needed to prevent even more severe disasters in the future.
The Copernicus data also shows that 2024 was the warmest year on record, marking the first time global temperatures temporarily surpassed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
Climate scientists emphasize that the trend of increasing temperatures is persistent, and with 2025 being the third hottest year, it underscores the urgent need for international cooperation and immediate climate mitigation measures.
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