The United Nations weather agency has confirmed that the period from 2015 to 2025 represents the hottest decade since records began in 1850, with 2025 ranking either the second or third hottest year globally, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
The WMO’s State of the Global Climate report highlights that 2025 temperatures were approximately 1.43 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, reinforcing earlier assessments that placed the year among the three warmest on record. Meanwhile, 2024 remains the hottest year at about 1.55 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average.
Glacier mass losses were particularly severe, with key sites in Iceland and North America experiencing exceptional declines—among the five worst ever recorded. These losses are a stark indicator of the accelerating impacts of climate change.
“The state of the global climate is in a state of emergency. Planet Earth is being pushed beyond its limits. Every key climate indicator is flashing red,” said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, underscoring the urgent need for global action.
The report emphasizes the continuing challenge governments face in meeting their commitments under the 2015 Paris Agreement, which aimed to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Rising temperatures, combined with accelerated glacier melt, serve as a clear signal of the escalating climate crisis, prompting warnings from scientists and international leaders about the growing risks to ecosystems, economies, and communities worldwide.
