| Links | |
|---|---|
| • Warming Rate Rises | |
| • Record Heatwaves | |
| • Paris Limit Breached | |
| • CO₂ Hits 430 ppm | |
| • Revised GSAT Model | |
| • Corporate Monitor | |
| • ENSO Update | |
| • Quote from Swain | |
The world is barrelling toward a hotter, more dangerous climate faster than predicted just a few years ago.
New data confirms that the rate of global warming has accelerated significantly, putting lives and ecosystems at risk.
From searing heat domes to surging carbon dioxide levels, the effects of this rapid change are unfolding globally.
Without drastic intervention, temperatures could rise well beyond safe limits by the end of this century.
Rapid Acceleration of Global Warming
Recent data confirm that global warming is accelerating at an unprecedented rate. A major report released this week shows that anthropogenic (human-caused) warming is now increasing at 0.27°C per decade, up from 0.2°C in the 1970s, a significant jump that underscores the escalating pace of climate change.1
This acceleration means that extreme weather events such as heatwaves, droughts, heavy rainfall, and wildfires are not only becoming more frequent but also more intense and severe than past projections suggested.
Record-Breaking Temperatures and Heatwaves
- North America: A powerful "heat dome" has gripped the eastern United States, with New York City recording 100°F (38°C) for the first time since 2013. Other major cities like Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Boston also surpassed the 100°F mark. Alaska issued its first-ever heat advisory.2
- Europe: Southern and central Europe are enduring severe heatwaves. Greece’s Chios Island is battling wildfires amid 40°C temperatures and strong winds. The UK issued a five-day health alert; the Netherlands cancelled outdoor events.
- Asia: Japan is in the grip of a prolonged two-week heatwave, pushing up energy demand and power prices.
These events are part of a broader pattern of earlier and more intense summer heat. Cities like Toronto have extended public pool hours, while European countries enact emergency health measures.
Global Temperature Thresholds and Carbon Dioxide Levels
The world is dangerously close to breaching the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C warming limit. In 2024, for the first time, global average temperatures exceeded this threshold, reaching 1.55°C above pre-industrial levels.3
While a single year above 1.5°C does not constitute a permanent breach, the trend is alarming: scientists now warn we could cross this limit consistently as soon as 2028.
Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels hit a new high in June 2025, surpassing 430 ppm, up from just under 320 ppm in 1960.4 Fossil fuel combustion, agriculture, and deforestation continue to drive this rise.
To stay under 1.5°C, emissions must fall 7.6% annually through 2030, a target not currently being met.
Scientific and Policy Developments
- Climate Science: New research suggests past models may have underestimated warming. A recalculated global surface air temperature (GSAT) model shows the planet is heating even faster than previously thought.5
- Climate Policy: June 2025 marks a turning point in climate ambition, with COP30 preparations intensifying. Governments and civil society are convening to fast-track emissions cuts, renewable energy, and climate finance.
- Corporate Responsibility: The 2025 Corporate Climate Responsibility Monitor will assess whether companies, including those in fashion and tech, are aligned with science-based targets.6 Early signs suggest widespread shortfalls.
Regional Impacts and Adaptation
- Canada: Glaciers in western Canada are melting at double the rate of the last decade. More than a dozen heat records were broken during the season’s first heatwave.
- Biodiversity: Climate stress is driving rapid biodiversity loss globally, with ecosystems increasingly unable to cope with rising temperatures and drought.
- Public Health: Heat-related illnesses are rising at public events, prompting health warnings for vulnerable populations.
Ocean and Climate Patterns
The World Meteorological Organization reports that sea surface temperatures in the Pacific are stabilizing, suggesting a return to neutral ENSO conditions.7 However, the tropical Atlantic remains abnormally warm, fueling volatile weather worldwide.
Outlook and Urgency
- The past decade (2015–2024) was the hottest ever recorded.
- Without major emissions cuts, global temperatures could rise 3.6°C by 2100.
- There is now unanimous scientific consensus: climate change is real, accelerating, and caused by human activity.
“Every incremental increase in temperature results in a disproportionately larger rise in atmospheric extremes, such as heavy rainfall, severe droughts, and wildfires.”
— Daniel Swain, Climate Scientist8
Conclusion
The week ending 29 June 2025 underscores the urgent need for global action. With record-breaking heat, rising emissions, and new scientific warnings, the world faces a narrowing window to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
Coordinated, urgent action is needed across nations, industries, and communities to reduce emissions, adapt to new extremes, and safeguard the planet’s future.