The article highlights the contrasting weather conditions experienced in the US and globally, noting that while many areas in the US faced extreme cold, January 2025 was recorded as the hottest January ever worldwide. Scientists from Copernicus Climate Change Services report that global temperatures during this month were 1.75°C higher than pre-industrial levels due to human activities, primarily fossil fuel combustion, which leads to greenhouse gas emissions and exacerbates the climate crisis.
The ongoing rise in global temperatures has significant impacts, including melting ice caps, heat waves, droughts, and severe weather events. The Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to 1.5°C, yet recent data shows that temperatures have exceeded this limit in 18 of the last 19 months. Importantly, despite the record temperatures, scientists caution that the 1.5°C threshold is not considered “broken” until consistently surpassed for about 20 years.
The article also discusses the influence of weather patterns like El Niño, which typically raises temperatures, and La Niña, which usually cools the climate. Remarkably, the onset of La Niña in January 2025 did not result in the expected cooling, leading to confusion among researchers. Prominent climate scientist James Hansen warns that global warming may be accelerating, while others argue it could be a temporary fluctuation. Nonetheless, there is a consensus on the need for urgent action to reduce fossil fuel reliance and mitigate climate change impacts.
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