The planet experienced its third-warmest year ever recorded in 2025, European scientists have confirmed, signaling that global warming continues unabated and no relief is expected in 2026.

According to data released by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) on Wednesday, the average global temperature in 2025 was 1.47°C (2.52°F) above pre-industrial levels. This marks the eleventh consecutive year among the warmest in recorded history, highlighting the accelerating trend of climate change.

---

Record-Breaking Temperature Trends

While 2025 was slightly cooler than 2024, the warmest year on record, it still exceeded 2023 by a marginal 0.01°C (0.018°F). The period 2023–2025 represents the first three-year span in which average global temperatures surpassed the 1.5°C (2.7°F) limit established by the Paris Agreement, underlining the urgency of global climate action.

The UK Met Office independently confirmed 2025 as the third-warmest year globally, corroborating the ECMWF findings.

“The long-term increase in global annual average temperature is driven by the human-induced rise in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere,” said Colin Morice, climate scientist at the UK Met Office.

---

Global Context and Climate Policy

The 1.5°C limit was agreed upon by nearly 200 countries at the 2015 Paris Climate Summit, aiming to prevent catastrophic climate impacts. However, the planet’s continued warming places this target in serious jeopardy.

The United States, the world’s second-largest greenhouse gas emitter, withdrew from the Paris Agreement early last year under President Donald Trump, delaying coordinated international climate action. Meanwhile, China, the largest emitter, announced in September 2025 its first target to cut emissions outright. While historic, climate experts criticized the plan as insufficient to halt the rise in global temperatures.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned in October 2025 that global temperatures are on track to overshoot the 1.5°C threshold, emphasizing the importance of early warning systems to protect vulnerable communities worldwide.

---

Regional Impacts of Rising Temperatures

Extreme heat waves, prolonged droughts, and intense storms have already increased in frequency and severity due to rising global temperatures. Tourist destinations like Istanbul, Turkiye, experienced record heat last summer, with locals and visitors alike forced to seek shade and relief from unprecedented high temperatures.

Scientists warn that the trend will continue, with 2026 expected to see further record-breaking temperatures unless rapid and decisive action is taken to reduce emissions globally.

“Without urgent mitigation, global warming will continue to escalate, threatening ecosystems, economies, and communities worldwide,” climate experts say.

---

What the Data Shows

• Global temperature rise: +1.47°C above pre-industrial levels (2025)
• Warmest three-year period: 2023–2025 exceeds Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C limit
• Temperature ranking: Third-warmest year on record, slightly below 2024 and 2023
• Impacted regions: Worldwide, with extreme heat in urban and coastal areas

NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the US are expected to release their updated temperature datasets later this week, likely reinforcing the ECMWF and Met Office findings.

---

Conclusion

The confirmation of 2025 as the third-warmest year ever recorded underscores the intensifying climate crisis and the failure to meet internationally agreed-upon targets. Experts stress the urgent need for emission reductions, global climate cooperation, and sustainable policies to prevent irreversible damage to the planet.

Without immediate action, scientists warn that temperature extremes will continue, threatening human health, agriculture, and biodiversity worldwide.