2025 Confirmed as Hottest Year on Record by 0.3°C
Climate agencies have confirmed 2025 as the hottest year in recorded history, exceeding the previous record set in 2024 by 0.3°C. The milestone underscores the accelerating pace of global warming.
By Emily Watson - Education & Social Issues Correspondent
Last Updated: December 17, 2025
2025 hottest year on record
Record Temperatures
Global average temperature in 2025 reached 1.45°C above pre-industrial levels, the highest ever recorded. Every month from June through December set monthly records.
Contributing Factors
Record temperatures resulted from rising greenhouse gas concentrations combined with a strong El Niño event. Ocean temperatures also reached unprecedented levels, with significant marine heat waves.
Impacts
Extreme weather events intensified: record wildfires, floods, and heat waves affected every continent. Climate scientists warn that 1.5°C of permanent warming could be locked in within a decade.