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Global temperatures continued to climb in 2025, making it the third hottest year ever recorded according to new data from the European Union Copernicus Climate Change Service.
The findings confirm that the world entered the first three year period in which average temperatures exceeded the critical 1.5 degree warming threshold above pre industrial levels.
Copernicus measured the global average surface temperature in 2025 at 14.97 degrees Celsius. This placed the year 1.47 degrees above the 1850 to 1900 pre industrial average. Only 2024 and 2023 recorded higher values.
The Copernicus Climate Change Service operates under the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts. Parallel analysis from Berkeley Earth in California confirmed that 2025 ranked as the third hottest year since records began in 1850.
Carlo Buontempo, Director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, said the trend leaves little room for uncertainty. “This boundary will be exceeded. The only thing we can do now is manage this situation and its impacts on societies in the best possible way,” he said.
Florian Pappenberger, Director General of the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts, said the world is experiencing the warmest decade on record. He stressed the importance of science based decision making in climate action.
Copernicus confirms that the last eleven years represent the eleven warmest years in recorded history.
The report concludes that the planet is rapidly approaching the long term temperature limit defined in the Paris Agreement.
Buontempo said the data provides further proof of continued warming. “The world is rapidly approaching the long term temperature boundary set by the Paris Agreement,” he said.
Researchers warn that rising temperatures already create economic costs. These include productivity losses with uneven effects across regions.
Türkiye sits within the broader European and Mediterranean climate zone identified as warming faster than the global average.
One of the most significant findings in the report is confirmation that the 2023 to 2025 period became the first three year span in which global average temperatures remained above 1.5 degrees compared to pre industrial levels.
Copernicus data shows the current long term global warming level already exceeds 1.4 degrees. Based on current warming rates, scientists project that the Paris Agreement target to limit warming to 1.5 degrees faces a risk of permanent overshoot by 2030. This would occur around ten years earlier than originally anticipated.
Analysts say there are two main drivers behind recent record heat. Greenhouse gas emissions continued to accumulate in the atmosphere as natural carbon sinks such as forests absorbed less carbon dioxide.
At the same time unusually high sea surface temperatures linked to El Niño and ocean variability amplified warming trends.
Copernicus also points to aerosol changes, low cloud patterns, and shifts in atmospheric circulation as contributing factors.
The warming trend showed strong effects in polar regions. Antarctica recorded its hottest year on record.
The Arctic experienced its second hottest year. Global sea surface temperatures in 2025 reached an average of 20.73 degrees, ranking as the third highest on record.
Europe also registered its third hottest year. The continent recorded an average temperature of 10.41 degrees. This stood 1.17 degrees above the 1991 to 2020 reference period.
Copernicus identifies Europe as the fastest warming continent with temperature increases occurring at a higher rate than the global average.
Extreme weather events accompanied the heat. Copernicus data shows that 2025 included severe storms across Europe, Asia, and North America. Large scale forest fires affected Spain, Canada, and Southern California. Many regions experienced record heat waves.
Pappenberger said preparation and prevention remain possible if actions follow solid scientific evidence.
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