2025: Second Hottest Year Ever Recorded

Global temperatures are set to confirm 2025 as the second-hottest year on record, trailing only 2024. Analysis by the Copernicus Climate Change Service reveals average temperatures for the first 11 months of 2025 are 1.48°C above pre-industrial levels, matching 2023's full-year anomaly. This trend highlights the urgent need to curb greenhouse gas emissions, which experts identify as the root cause.

This past November was the third-warmest on record, experiencing an average temperature 0.65°C above the 1991-2020 average. The month was also marked by severe weather, including tropical cyclones in Southeast Asia that led to catastrophic flooding. Scientists are increasingly linking such extreme events to ongoing global warming, emphasizing the tangible impacts of climate change.

The warming trend extends to ocean surface temperatures, with November 2025 sea surface temperatures ranking fourth highest globally. Arctic sea ice coverage was also significantly below average, suggesting persistently higher autumn temperatures. These combined indicators underscore a global climate in rapid transition, with profound implications for ecosystems and human societies worldwide.