Ten years after the Paris Agreement took effect, newly released climate datasets show global warming accelerating, with 2025 ranking among the three hottest years ever recorded, alongside new highs in ocean heat and sea levels (16/02).

The findings come as political divisions persist over climate policy. U.S. President Donald Trump has rolled back several environmental measures over the past year and has described climate change as a hoax, a position that has contributed to challenges facing environmental agendas globally.

At the annual United Nations meeting in Brazil last year, countries agreed to provide more funding to help poorer nations adapt to extreme weather. However, they did not reach an agreement on clearer plans to phase out fossil fuels or to strengthen emissions reduction commitments.

Global Carbon Emissions Projected to Reach 38.1 Billion Tonnes

Data from the World Meteorological Organization Global Atmosphere Watch network shows concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide climbing to record levels. Scientists say these increases are driving the temperature spike observed between 2023 and 2025.

The latest Global Carbon Budget report projects global fossil fuel carbon dioxide emissions will reach a record 38.1 billion tonnes in 2025. The rise is linked to higher use of coal, oil, and gas, despite rapid growth in renewable energy.

Produced by more than 130 scientists, the report estimates fossil fuel CO₂ emissions will increase by 1.1% next year. Atmospheric CO₂ levels are now about 52% above pre-industrial levels.

Researchers warn that only around 170 billion tonnes of additional CO₂ can be emitted if warming is to be limited to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. At current rates, this equals roughly four years of emissions.

Emissions are projected to increase in China, India, the United States, and the European Union, while falling in Japan.

2025 Ties as One of Warmest Years on Record

The NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies reported that Earth’s surface temperature in 2025 was 1.19°C above the 1951–1980 average. This effectively ties 2025 with 2023 as one of the warmest years ever measured.

The WMO’s consolidated dataset places 2025 at 1.44°C above pre-industrial levels, ranking it among the top three warmest years across 176 years of recorded temperatures.

Arctic Sea Ice Hits Lowest Winter Maximum

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 2025 Arctic Report Card states that October 2024 to September 2025 was the warmest period in the Arctic since 1900. The region continues to warm at more than twice the global average rate.

Sea-ice extent reached its lowest winter maximum on record in March 2025, measuring about 14.47 million square kilometers, according to the U.S. National Ice Center.

Oceans Absorb Record Heat as Sea Levels Rise

The oceans absorbed record levels of heat in 2025, setting a new global high for upper-ocean heat content, according to NOAA and Berkeley Earth.

Sea levels, measured by tide gauges and satellites, continue to rise. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change projects a sea level increase of 0.20 to 0.29 meters by 2050 compared with 1995–2014 levels.

PHOTO: UNSPLASH

This article was created with AI assistance.

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