Global Temperatures Likely to Break Records, 2°C Warming Possible by 2030
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warns there’s an 80% chance annual heat records will be shattered within five years, escalating risks of droughts, floods, and wildfires, The Guardian reported. A new report reveals a 1% probability of global temperatures hitting 2°C above preindustrial levels before 2030—a scenario scientists call “shocking.”
The 2025-2029 period has a 70% likelihood of averaging 1.5°C warming, nearing the Paris Agreement’s critical threshold. In 2024, the 1.5°C mark was breached annually for the first time.
Arctic winters may warm 3.5 times faster than global averages, while the Amazon faces droughts and South Asia/Europe brace for heavier rains. The Met Office predicts 2025 could rank among the top three hottest years.
WMO’s Chris Hewitt urged immediate climate action, stressing: “1.5°C is not inevitable.” The analysis pooled data from 15 institutes, including the UK Met Office and Barcelona Supercomputing Centre.
