2025 Set to Be Among Hottest Years, Urging Climate Action

The European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) has projected that 2025 is virtually certain to rank as the second or third-hottest year on record, likely surpassed only by 2024. This projection underscores a troubling trend: a potential three-year period where average global temperatures exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, a critical threshold outlined in the 2015 Paris Agreement.

From January to November 2025, global temperatures were on average 1.48°C higher than pre-industrial levels (1850–1900), matching the anomaly recorded in 2023, currently the second-hottest year on record after 2024. In November alone, global temperatures were 1.54°C above pre-industrial levels, according to Dr. Samantha Burgess, Deputy Director of C3S.

The 2015 Paris Agreement aims to limit global temperature rise to well below 2°C, preferably to 1.5°C, above pre-industrial levels. The projected temperatures for 2025 indicate a concerning trend, as they may complete a three-year period where average global temperatures exceed the critical 1.5°C threshold.

The consistent rise in global temperatures underscores the accelerating pace of climate change, leading to more frequent and severe weather events, including heatwaves, droughts, and floods. Elevated temperatures pose significant health risks, particularly to vulnerable populations, and can exacerbate existing health conditions. Climate change can disrupt agriculture, fisheries, and other industries, leading to economic instability and increased costs for disaster response and infrastructure repair.

The 30th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30) was held in Belém, Brazil, in November 2025. The summit concluded with an agreement to triple funding for developing nations to combat climate change but failed to secure significant new emissions cuts. UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed mixed feelings about the COP30 outcome, noting that while multilateralism remains effective, the summit was "disappointing" due to the lack of stronger commitments to reduce emissions and address fossil fuel dependence.

The Middle East and North Africa have experienced temperatures rising at twice the global average, with 2024 identified as the region’s hottest year on record. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warns that prolonged periods of temperatures exceeding 50°C are severely affecting human health, ecosystems, and economies.

The projected temperatures for 2025 highlight the urgent need for enhanced global action to mitigate climate change. The data from C3S and the outcomes of COP30 underscore the challenges in achieving the goals set forth in the Paris Agreement. Addressing these issues requires coordinated efforts from governments, organizations, and individuals worldwide.