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Earth Heats Up: 2025 May Be World's Second Warmest Year
10 Dec
Summary
- 2025 is projected as the second or third warmest year, following 2024's record heat.
- This year concludes a three-year period exceeding the 1.5ºC warming threshold.
- Typhoon Kalmaegi and Spain's wildfires highlight escalating extreme weather events.
The year 2025 is shaping up to be one of the hottest globally, likely ranking as the second or third warmest year on record, with 2024 potentially holding the top spot. This period is also poised to be the first three-year span where average global temperatures consistently surpass the critical 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold above pre-industrial levels. This escalating heat is not merely a statistic but reflects a tangible acceleration of climate change impacts.
Compounding these temperature records, extreme weather events have continued to impact regions worldwide. Last month, Typhoon Kalmaegi tragically claimed over 200 lives in the Philippines, while Spain endured its most severe wildfires in three decades, exacerbated by climate-influenced weather patterns. These incidents serve as stark reminders of the escalating climate crisis.
The last decade has seen unprecedented warmth, with all ten years being the hottest since records began. While natural fluctuations occur, the scientific consensus attributes this sustained warming trend to greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel combustion. The 1.5°C limit, established by the Paris Agreement to avert the worst climate consequences, is increasingly at risk, with warnings that it may be realistically unachievable without faster emission cuts.
