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Earth Heats Up: 2026 Poised for Record Temperatures
18 Dec
Summary
- Global temperatures are projected to exceed 1.4C above preindustrial levels next year.
- 2026 is anticipated to be among the four hottest years recorded since 1850.
- Temporary exceedances of the 1.5C Paris target have already occurred in 2024.

Meteorologists project that global temperatures will rise more than 1.4C above preindustrial levels next year, driven by ongoing fossil fuel pollution.
While slightly cooler than the record 2024, 2026 is anticipated to rank among the four hottest years recorded since 1850. This warming trend signifies a critical juncture as the Earth experiences conditions not seen before in human history.
This surge in temperatures brings the world closer to the 1.5C Paris Agreement target, which was temporarily breached in 2024. Scientists caution that the Earth's stable climate is increasingly jeopardized by heat-trapping gases and failing carbon sinks.




