The world is consistently experiencing warmer temperatures, with the recent September ranking as the third hottest ever recorded. This concerning update comes from the Copernicus Climate Change Service, which noted that global average temperatures are persistently high, reflecting the ongoing impact of greenhouse gas accumulation in our atmosphere.
While this past September didn’t surpass the record set in 2023, it was only slightly cooler than that extraordinary period, highlighting a worrying trend. Samantha Burgess, a strategic lead for climate at Copernicus, emphasized that these sustained high land and sea surface temperatures are a direct consequence of the continuous buildup of greenhouse gases.
Specifically, September temperatures soared to 1.47°C above the pre-industrial average (1850-1900). This figure is critical because even seemingly small increases in global temperature can significantly destabilize our planet, escalating the risks of extreme weather events and potentially triggering irreversible climate tipping points.
The primary driver behind these escalating global temperatures is humanity’s relentless emission of greenhouse gases, primarily from the widespread burning of fossil fuels since the Industrial Revolution. This massive scale of human activity continues to push our climate into uncharted territory.
Looking ahead, scientists predict that 2025 will stand as the third-hottest year, following closely behind 2024 and 2023, indicating that the recent streak of extreme warmth is likely to continue. This sobering forecast sets the stage for upcoming UN climate negotiations in Brazil, where nations will convene to discuss their collective response to this escalating global warming crisis.
Despite the urgency, many major economies are still lagging in their efforts to significantly reduce emissions and are even approving new fossil fuel projects. This inaction stands in stark contrast to the scientific warnings about avoiding the most severe impacts of climate change.
Copernicus relies on an extensive network of data sources, including billions of measurements from satellites, ships, aircraft, and weather stations, to inform its precise climate calculations. Their detailed records date back to 1940, and when combined with other historical climate data like ice cores, tree rings, and coral skeletons, they reveal a stark reality.
Scientists now assert that the Earth is currently experiencing its warmest period in at least the last 125,000 years, underscoring the unprecedented nature of the current climate crisis.