Global temperatures in 2025 were among the highest ever recorded, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), highlighting the continued impact of climate change.
The UN weather agency said an analysis of eight major climate datasets showed that average global surface temperatures last year were roughly 1.44°C above pre-industrial levels (1850–1900). Two of the datasets ranked 2025 as the second warmest year in recorded history, while the remaining six placed it third.
The WMO noted that the past 11 years have been the warmest on record, with oceans absorbing and storing unprecedented amounts of heat. Secretary-General, Celeste Saulo, mentioned that even during natural cooling periods, such as the La Niña phase that began and ended 2025, greenhouse gas accumulation keeps global temperatures high.
“Despite La Niña, 2025 was still one of the warmest years because of the persistent heat trapped in our atmosphere”, Saulo said.
The agency explained that while 2025 was slightly cooler than the three-year average from 2023, temporary cooling does not halt the long-term warming trend. Elevated temperatures over land and oceans contributed to extreme weather events, including severe heatwaves, heavy rainfall, and deadly tropical cyclones.
The WMO confirmed that 2023, 2024, and 2025 are the hottest three years on record, with 2024 as the warmest single year. European Union climate scientists also noted that 2025 marked the first three-year period where global temperatures exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, a milestone that could trigger serious climate impacts.
Climate strategist at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), Samantha Burgess, warned that even small increases in temperature intensify extreme weather, adding that 2026 is likely to rank among the five warmest years on record.
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