The planet experienced its third-warmest year on record in 2025, according to data released Wednesday by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. The average global temperature was 1.47 degrees Celsius (2.52 degrees Fahrenheit) above the pre-industrial level.

The data indicated that the past 11 years have been the warmest ever recorded, underscoring a clear trend of rising global temperatures. Last year's temperature was just 0.13C (0.234F) cooler than 2024, the warmest year on record, and 0.01C (0.018F) cooler than 2023, the second-warmest year.

The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, an independent intergovernmental organization supported by many European nations and cooperating institutions, compiles and analyzes global temperature data from various sources, including satellites, weather stations, and ocean buoys. Their findings are considered a benchmark for understanding global climate trends.

While specific regional impacts were not detailed in the initial data release, rising global temperatures are known to exacerbate extreme weather events, disrupt agricultural cycles, and contribute to rising sea levels, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations in developing nations. The image accompanying the report showed tourists in Istanbul, Turkiye, using umbrellas for shade, illustrating the impact of the heat.

Scientists have warned that exceeding the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold above pre-industrial levels, as outlined in the Paris Agreement, will lead to more severe and irreversible consequences. The latest data suggests that the world is rapidly approaching this critical limit, prompting renewed calls for urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. No relief from the heat is expected in 2026.