In January 2025, a new monthly heat record was established globally, with the Copernicus Climate Service reporting temperatures 0.09°C higher than January 2024 and 1.75°C warmer than pre-industrial levels. This marked the 19th consecutive month surpassing the international warming limit of 1.5°C, although scientists note that such records need to persist for over 20 years to be considered a breach of these limits. The record warm temperatures came despite the onset of La Niña, a weather pattern known for typically cooling effects.
The rise in global temperatures has been attributed largely to greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel use, but researchers note that natural climate cycles, particularly involving the equatorial Pacific, are not working as expected. Warming trends are raising concerns among scientists, with James Hansen and others suggesting that global warming is accelerating, a notion contested by some in the scientific community who argue that the observed trends could be part of a natural variation.
Despite colder conditions observed in certain parts of the U.S., the overall global temperatures revealed a stark contrast, particularly in the Arctic, where temperatures were notably high, leading to reduced sea ice levels. While predictions indicated that February 2025 might be cooler than previous months, the long-term trend raises alarm over the accelerating impacts of climate change.
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