Data released in December reveal that November was the third-hottest month ever recorded, with devastating cyclones in Asia killing more than 1,100 people. These findings reinforce the need to accelerate the transition to clean and sustainable energy as a central pillar of any effective climate mitigation strategy.
The year 2025 is poised to become the second-hottest on record since measurements began in 1850, tied with 2023, according to a recently released report by the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). Only 2024 remains ahead as the hottest year ever recorded, confirming an alarming sequence of years marked by extreme temperatures that reflect the historical accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, largely driven by the continued use of fossil fuels. These climate patterns underscore that the transition to renewable energy sources is a priority action to curb rising temperatures.
The report, published on December 9, presents data for November 2025, which was the third-hottest month since records began, with temperatures significantly above the historical average, especially in northern Canada and the Arctic Ocean. The month was also marked by extreme weather events, including tropical cyclones in Southeast Asia that caused widespread flooding and loss of life. These impacts highlight the growing vulnerability of social systems and infrastructure to climate extremes driven by global warming, which in turn is intrinsically linked to greenhouse gas emissions.
A story of three years above the critical threshold
The global average temperature between January and November 2025 was about 1.48°C above pre-industrial levels (1850–1900), placing the projected year virtually tied with 2023 as the second-hottest on record. The year 2024 remains the hottest, at approximately 1.55°C above that pre-industrial reference. The trend of three consecutive years with temperatures above 1.5°C runs counter to the goals of the Paris Agreement and is a clear sign that global reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are still not occurring at a pace compatible with long-term climate stability.
The 1.5°C limit was established by the Paris Agreement as a strategic objective to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. The finding that the three-year average may exceed this threshold for the first time since records began underscores the need to accelerate the energy transition toward renewable and clean sources, which are essential to reducing net carbon dioxide emissions and stabilizing the global climate.
The numbers are not abstract
According to Samantha Burgess, Strategic Lead for Climate at C3S, the temperature milestones being reached are not abstract figures, but indicators of the accelerating pace of global warming. The only way to mitigate future temperature increases is to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Achieving this depends directly on decarbonizing the global energy mix, with a transition to sources such as solar, wind, sustainable hydropower, and other clean energy technologies.
November: extreme heat and human tragedies
November 2025 recorded a global average air temperature of 14.02°C, about 0.65°C above the 1991–2020 average for the month, making it the third-warmest November on record, behind only November 2023 and 2024. Temperatures were predominantly above average across nearly the entire planet, with particularly pronounced anomalies in northern Canada, the Arctic Ocean, and Antarctica. Europe also felt the heat, with average temperatures substantially above the historical norm for the season.
It was in Southeast Asia that the harshest face of the climate crisis was witnessed in November. More than 1,100 people lost their lives in South and Southeast Asia due to extreme rainfall and flooding caused by tropical cyclones and intense seasonal rains. These extreme impacts are directly linked to global warming conditions that intensify hydrological and meteorological events, creating substantial risks for vulnerable communities.
Devastating cyclones: tragedy in Southeast Asia
Cyclone Senyar, which formed in the Strait of Malacca in November, was one of the most severe phenomena. It struck northeastern Sumatra, bringing torrential rains that triggered flash floods and landslides. Around 1.5 million people were affected, 570,000 were displaced, and approximately 700 deaths were recorded in Indonesia, making this disaster one of the deadliest in the country in recent years.
In Thailand, the death toll exceeded 260 people, with Songkhla province particularly hard hit. In Sri Lanka, floods and landslides triggered by cyclones affected nearly one million people and resulted in hundreds dead or missing. In the Philippines, consecutive typhoons also caused hundreds of casualties and disrupted millions of lives. These episodes are manifestations of climate risks that intensify on a warming planet.
The science behind the tragedy
According to climate experts, what made these events so deadly was not only their intensity, but the combination of climatic factors that amplify extremes. The World Meteorological Organization notes that higher ocean temperatures can increase the energy available for tropical storms and intensify extreme precipitation. This is directly related to global warming driven by human greenhouse gas emissions, especially from fossil fuels.
Atmospheric physics explains that for every 1°C increase in temperature, the air can hold approximately 7% more water vapor. This means a warmer atmosphere can release larger volumes of rain over shorter periods, overwhelming drainage systems and increasing the risk of floods and landslides. These effects make reducing emissions through clean and sustainable energy even more urgent to prevent more frequent and intense extremes in the future.
Local vulnerabilities amplify impacts
Beyond climatic factors, socioeconomic and environmental vulnerabilities amplified the effects of these extreme events. In regions such as Sumatra, extensive deforestation removed natural barriers that once slowed runoff and reduced the severity of flooding. Factors such as land-use change increase exposure to climate risks.
Many affected countries also face economic challenges that undermine their capacity for adaptation and disaster preparedness. Insufficient urban drainage infrastructure and inadequate reservoirs are unable to cope with extreme volumes of water, contributing to human and economic losses. The crisis disproportionately affected the poorest, highlighting how social and climate vulnerabilities are deeply interconnected.
Europe: between heat and extreme rainfall
While Asia grappled with deadly cyclones, Europe experienced its own climate extremes. The autumn of 2025 was one of the warmest on record for the continent, with average temperatures significantly above the historical norm. Some regions experienced heavier-than-average rainfall, while others faced drier conditions, illustrating the complexity of climate impacts even within a single continent.
What the experts say
The scientific community is unanimous in stating that the current trajectory is unsustainable. The Copernicus report indicates that 2025 will likely end as the second or third-hottest year ever recorded, reflecting the continued acceleration of climate change. These data confirm that recent years have consistently been the warmest since systematic records began.
Experts emphasize that the only way to curb this trend is to urgently reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This reduction cannot come solely from targets or vague commitments; it requires deep transformations in the global energy sector, with an accelerated replacement of fossil fuels by renewable energy, greater energy efficiency, and a transition to sustainable and resilient energy production models.
A future that depends on immediate action
Ocean temperatures also reached record levels in November 2025. Average sea surface temperatures were among the highest ever recorded for the month, further increasing the energy available to fuel intense storms. This reality is not a distant projection, but a clear sign that the climate crisis is impacting natural and human systems in real time.
The Copernicus report serves as a stark reminder that the climate crisis is not a future threat, but a present reality that demands immediate action. The events of November 2025, whether record temperatures in the Arctic or deadly cyclones in Asia, are a preview of what could become the norm if greenhouse gas emissions are not drastically reduced in the coming decades.
As Samantha Burgess warned, “these milestones are not abstract.” The only way to mitigate future temperature increases is to rapidly cut emissions, pointing directly to the need to accelerate the adoption of clean and sustainable energy across all economies.
The choice, and the time to act, are still in our hands. Copernicus data make it clear that every fraction of a degree matters. Every year of inaction brings us closer to a point of no return. The transition to clean and sustainable energy is one of the most strategically important decisions of the next decade for global climate stability.
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