Earth's Heat Check: 2025 Breaks Records
A Scorching Year
2025 was a scorcher, and not in a good way. It was one of the hottest years ever, and for the first time, the average temperature over three years crossed the 1.5°C threshold set in the 2015 Paris Agreement. This means the Earth is getting warmer, and fast.
The Heat Doesn't Let Up
The heat didn't let up, even with La Niña, a natural cooling event in the Pacific Ocean. Why? Because humans keep burning fossil fuels like oil, gas, and coal, pumping out greenhouse gases that trap heat.
Extreme Weather Events
Extreme weather events are becoming more common and more severe. In 2025, there were 157 extreme weather events worldwide. Heat waves were the deadliest, with some being 10 times more likely due to climate change.
- Droughts led to wildfires in Greece and Turkey.
- Heavy rains caused flooding in Mexico, killing dozens.
- Super Typhoon Fung-wong hit the Philippines, forcing over a million people to evacuate.
- Monsoon rains in India brought floods and landslides.
The Struggle to Adapt
The increasing frequency and severity of these events are pushing people to their limits. They struggle to respond and adapt with enough warning, time, and resources. Hurricane Melissa is a prime example. It intensified quickly, making forecasting and planning difficult, and caused severe damage in Jamaica, Cuba, and Haiti.
United Nations Climate Talks
The United Nations climate talks in Brazil ended without a clear plan to move away from fossil fuels. More money was promised to help countries adapt, but it will take time.
Progress and Challenges
- China is investing in renewable energy but is also still using coal.
- In Europe, extreme weather has sparked calls for climate action, but some countries worry it will hurt economic growth.
- In the U.S., the Trump administration has been focusing on coal, oil, and gas instead of clean energy.
The Fight Against Climate Change
The fight against climate change is a mixed bag. Some places are making progress, but it's not enough. We need to do more to tackle this global issue.
