KATHMANDU, Jan 24: The planet continued its warming streak in 2025, which has now been recorded as the third warmest year on record, according to data released by Copernicus, the European Union’s climate monitoring program. Global temperature records have been officially maintained since 1850, and the latest data confirm that 2024 remains the warmest year, followed by 2023, with 2025 close behind. The global average temperature in 2025 was just 0.13 degrees Celsius lower than in 2024 and 0.01 degrees Celsius lower than in 2023, underscoring how narrow the gap has become between recent years.
The past 11 years have all ranked among the warmest on record, highlighting a clear and persistent warming trend. Compared to the pre-industrial period (1850–1900), the global average temperature over the last three years (2023–2025) has risen by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius. This marks the first time that the world has crossed the 1.5-degree threshold for three consecutive years. Based on global land air temperatures, 2025 ranked as the third warmest year worldwide, with Antarctica recording its warmest annual average temperature and the Arctic experiencing its second warmest.
The findings were jointly released by the Copernicus Climate Change Service and the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, operated by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), in coordination with institutions including NASA and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Multiple assessment methods show that long-term global temperatures have already risen by around 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels.
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Under the Paris Climate Agreement, countries committed to limiting global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius by the end of the century and to pursue efforts to cap the increase at 1.5 degrees Celsius. However, scientists warn that at the current pace of warming, the 1.5-degree limit could be breached by the end of this decade, far earlier than expected when the agreement was signed.
Scientists attribute the exceptional heat of the past three years to two main drivers. First is the continued rise in carbon emissions, coupled with the declining ability of natural carbon sinks to absorb carbon dioxide, leading to a buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Second is the influence of El Niño, other oceanic variability, and climate change, which have pushed sea-surface temperatures to unusually high levels. Changes in atmospheric aerosols, cloud cover, and circulation patterns have also played a role.
Copernicus reports that, as in 2023 and 2024, much of the world remained warmer than average in 2025. While air and sea-surface temperatures in tropical regions were slightly lower than in the previous two years, many other areas experienced sustained heat. As a result, half of the world’s land area endured heat stress of 32 degrees Celsius or higher on more days than average in 2025. The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies heat stress as one of the leading causes of weather-related deaths globally.
Rising temperatures have also intensified droughts, strong winds, and wildfires, particularly in dry regions. Such fires release carbon, toxic air pollutants, and ozone, posing serious threats to both human health and ecosystems, scientists warn.
The year 2025 was marked by a series of extreme weather events, including heatwaves in multiple regions, severe storms across Europe, Asia, and North America, and destructive wildfires in Spain, Canada, and southern California. Scientists stress that human activities remain the primary driver of the ongoing rise in global temperatures. “The atmosphere is sending us a message, and we must listen,” said Laurence Rouil, Director of the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, in a statement.
Copernicus was established to provide reliable and independent climate and atmospheric data to policymakers, businesses, academic institutions, and citizens worldwide to support informed decision-making.
