Image source: Pedro Pascual
This year, many parts of the world have experienced unprecedented storms, wildfires, and high temperatures, and it is expected to be the second hottest year on record, second only to 2024.
According to data released by the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) of the European Union, the average temperature in 2025 is 1.48°C higher than the pre-industrial average temperature, second only to 2024, which is 1.6°C higher than the pre-industrial average temperature.
In 2024, El Niño caused global warming, and now the world is in an alternating La Niña phase, where the upwelling of cold, deep water from the tropical Pacific usually lowers global temperatures. However, in 2025, fossil fuel emissions will reach a new high, meaning temperatures will continue to rise, leading to devastating extreme weather events.
“These extreme weather events are what affect our societies and ecosystems, and as the climate warms, the frequency and severity of these events will increase,” said Samantha Burgess of C3S. “The more moisture the atmosphere holds, the more violent the storms will be.”
This summer, climate change caused a heatwave that swept across Europe, killing 16,500 people. In October, Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica. It was the strongest hurricane to hit the country, causing more than 80 deaths and estimated losses of $8.8 billion. The international academic collaboration World Weather Attribution found that climate change increased Melissa's rainfall by 16% and wind speeds by 7%.
In November, a series of cyclones and storms triggered landslides and floods in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam, killing more than 1,600 people. Currently, Arctic sea ice extent is at its lowest level on record for this time of year, and Antarctic sea ice is also below normal levels.
According to C3S data, the average temperature over the past three years may be 1.5°C higher than pre-industrial levels for the first time. Scientists predict that by 2029, the average temperature rise will consistently exceed the 1.5°C threshold, surpassing the goals set by the Paris Agreement.
A report released in October indicated that the tipping point for the irreversible extinction of tropical coral reefs has been crossed, and the Earth may soon cross the tipping point of Amazon rainforest degradation, Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheet collapse, and Antarctic sea ice melt.
(Original title: 2025 will be the second hottest year on record, and may surpass several climate tipping points in the future)
