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The WMO has confirmed that the past 11 years, from 2015 to 2025, are individually the 11 warmest on record, with 2025 on track to be the second or third warmest year globally.

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Home / Environment / Melting Arctic and Soaring Temperatures: Urgent Climate Crisis Unfolds

Melting Arctic and Soaring Temperatures: Urgent Climate Crisis Unfolds

Q: What is the current state of Arctic sea ice?

According to the article, Arctic sea ice was at its lowest levels on record for the time of year after the winter freeze in 2025.

6 Nov

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Summary

2025 on track to be 2nd or 3rd warmest year globally
Arctic sea ice at lowest levels on record for time of year
Greenhouse gas concentrations continue to rise to record highs

Melting Arctic and Soaring Temperatures: Urgent Climate Crisis Unfolds

According to the latest report from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), the year 2025 is on track to be the second or third warmest globally on record. This comes as an "unprecedented streak" of high temperatures persists, with the past 11 years being the warmest ever recorded.

The WMO has confirmed that global average surface temperatures from January to August 2025 were 1.42°C above pre-industrial levels, a slight drop from the record 1.55°C set in 2024. However, the agency warns that it will be "virtually impossible" to curb global warming to the agreed limit of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels in the next few years without temporarily overshooting the target.

Compounding the crisis, the Arctic sea ice was at its lowest levels on record for the time of year after the winter freeze. Additionally, concentrations of key greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, were at record highs in 2024 and are expected to be even higher in 2025.