Overview
- The State of the Climate report, published Wednesday in BioScience, finds seven of 16 tracked planetary vital signs at record extremes and says the climate is now destabilizing.
- Atmospheric greenhouse gases hit new highs with carbon dioxide above about 428 parts per million in May 2026 while methane and nitrous oxide also reached record levels.
- The report documents an accelerated rate of warming—about 0.36°C per decade since 2010 versus roughly 0.05°C per decade early last century—and warns 2°C could be reached before 2050 at current rates.
- Energy trends show fossil‑fuel use and energy‑related CO2 emissions rose to record highs in 2025, surpassing 41 gigatonnes, even as low‑carbon sources supplied roughly 43% of global electricity.
- Authors highlight that some systems, including coral reefs, have crossed tipping points and that fast adaptation measures like mangrove restoration, urban cooling and distributed solar are needed now to reduce harm and protect vulnerable communities.