Rabat – January 2025 was the hottest month in what is now a consecutive two-year streak of global temperatures, with several all-time records being outdone consecutively.
But global temperatures defied prediction when they continued their upward trend despite La Niña in the tropical Pacific, which sees a slight cooling effect on global temperatures.
Samantha Burgess, Deputy Director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, C3S announced these updates through the service’s monthly bulletin.
Last month had an average temperature of 13.23°C, which was 1.75°C higher than the pre-industrial normal at a period when human activities, notably increasing coal, oil, and natural gas consumption, had already profoundly impacted the climate.
With La Niña’s moderating impact, experts projected a halt in the trend of milestone-breaking temperatures. That effect has unfortunately not happened.
“January 2025 is another surprising month, continuing the record temperatures observed throughout the last two years, despite the development of La Niña conditions in the tropical Pacific and their temporary cooling effect on global temperatures,” said Burgess.
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The expert added that Copernicus will continue to closely monitor ocean temperatures and their influence on “our evolving climate throughout 2025.”
Sea surface temperatures, which also help regulate the planet’s climate, have been at alarmingly unprecedented levels.
Over 70% of the Earth’s surface area has consecutively persisted in heat since April 2023. Ocean temperatures for January 2025 rank as the second hottest month after January 2024.
In the Arctic, which has experienced some especially warm winters in recent years, sea ice reached its lowest extent ever recorded for a January, coming very close to tying the record set in 2018.
This record-breaking month adds to the ongoing pattern of temperatures frequently exceeding the 1.5°C rise above pre-industrial levels.
While most climatologists believe that these severe temperatures are consistent with estimates, others argue that human activity may be causing the climate to rise faster than projected.
