The world just lived through the 11 hottest years on record - what now?
Nature • • general
Key Points:
- The past 11 years have been the hottest on record, with 2025 ranking as the second or third hottest year since observations began, according to the World Meteorological Organization's (WMO) State of the Global Climate 2025 report.
- Atmospheric carbon dioxide and ocean heat reached record levels in 2025, while global surface temperatures remained slightly lower than the previous year but continued to be exceptionally high.
- Sea-ice levels in both the Antarctic and Arctic were among the lowest since 1979, highlighting ongoing climate impacts.
- For the first time, the WMO report included Earth's energy imbalance (EEI), which measures the heat accumulation on Earth; in 2025, EEI reached its highest level since 1960, indicating increased heat trapped by greenhouse gases.
- Experts emphasize that EEI is a more accurate indicator of global warming than surface temperatures alone, as over 91% of excess heat since the 1970s has been absorbed by the oceans, making EEI a clearer measure of long-term climate change.
