Global Warming Accelerates: January 2025 Sets Heat Record

A woman reads a book while sunbathing during a summer day in Montevideo, Uruguay, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico, File)

In January 2025, the world experienced another monthly heat record, with temperatures surpassing the previous hottest January. According to the European climate service Copernicus, January 2025 was 0.09 degrees Celsius warmer than January 2024 and 1.75 degrees Celsius warmer than pre-industrial times. This marks the 18th month out of the last 19 that global temperatures have exceeded the internationally agreed-upon warming limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

The primary driver of this record heat is the accumulation of greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels. While natural factors like the equatorial Pacific Ocean's temperature changes typically influence global temperatures, the recent La Nina event was expected to mitigate the effects of global warming. However, despite the cooling influence of La Nina, record temperatures persisted due to unprecedented warmth in the world's oceans.

Although the United States experienced colder-than-average temperatures in January, the rest of the world saw significantly warmer conditions. The Arctic, in particular, experienced unseasonably mild temperatures, leading to sea ice melting in some areas. Copernicus reported that the Arctic tied its January record for lowest sea ice extent.

Former NASA scientist James Hansen and his colleagues have argued that global warming is accelerating, with the last 15 years warming at twice the rate of the previous 40 years. Hansen predicts that the trend of record warmth will continue in the coming years, despite some regulatory efforts to reduce pollution and mitigate warming.

Global temperatures 1.75°C warmer than pre-industrial levels.

January 2025 breaks heat record, 0.09°C warmer than 2024.

Greenhouse gases from fossil fuels primary driver of record heat.

La Nina event fails to mitigate global warming effects.

Arctic experiences unseasonably mild temperatures, record low sea ice extent.

Former NASA scientist James Hansen predicts continued record warmth.

While some scientists remain divided on the issue of acceleration in global warming, the consensus is that the persistence of record warmth in recent years is indicative of the accelerating impacts of climate change. The University of Michigan's environment dean noted that there is little doubt that global warming is intensifying.

As we move forward into 2025, the race for the hottest year remains uncertain, with experts closely monitoring global temperature trends and their implications for the future.

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