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27m ago

WMO Says 2025 on Track to Be Second or Third Warmest Year on Record

UN officials warn a near-term overshoot of the 1.5°C goal now looks virtually unavoidable without far faster action.

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A large crowd of people gather at Bondi Beach on Christmas Day to enjoy the beach, sunny weather and national holiday. This image was taken from the cliffs at the southern end of Bondi Beach on a hot and sunny afternoon (although if not for daylight saving, the time would be 12 noon) on 25 December 2024.
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Overview

  • The WMO reports a January–August 2025 global mean near-surface temperature 1.42°C above the pre‑industrial average.
  • The stretch from 2015 to 2025 ranks as the warmest 11-year period on record, with 2023, 2024 and 2025 the three hottest individual years.
  • Key greenhouse gases reached record levels in 2024 and continued rising in 2025 as ocean heat content and long‑term sea‑level rise increased.
  • Observed impacts include the largest recorded annual glacier mass loss in 2024 (about 450 billion tonnes), the lowest Arctic winter sea-ice extent, persistently low Antarctic sea ice and widespread extreme weather.
  • Released ahead of COP30 in Brazil, the update prompts calls for rapid mitigation and adaptation, noting a 2.3% rise in 2024 emissions and that about 40% of countries still lack multi‑hazard early warning systems.