May 2025 Was the World’s Second-Warmest on Record

On 5th June 2025, the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) reported that May 2025 was Earth’s second-warmest May on record, driven by fossil fuel emissions and intensifying climate change.

Key Points

Near-Record Heat: Global surface temperatures in May 2025 averaged 1.4°C above pre-industrial levels (1850–1900), second only to May 2024.
21-Month Trend: 21 of the past 22 months have seen monthly averages above the 1.5°C threshold, highlighting persistent warming.
Greenland Heatwave: A separate study found human-caused climate change made a record Greenland-Iceland heatwave ~3°C hotter, accelerating ice melt.
Spring 2025 Temperatures: The March–May period marked the northern hemisphere’s second-hottest spring on record.
Paris Agreement at Risk: Though the 1.5°C target set by the Paris Agreement refers to long-term averages, scientists warn it may no longer be achievable.
Urgency for Action: Climate experts call for faster CO₂ emission cuts to limit overshooting temperature targets and mitigate extreme weather.