A consortium of more than 70 internationally renowned scientists has issued a severe warning about the increase in global warming with record temperatures and the deterioration of key environmental indicators. According to a study recently published in Earth System Science Data, global temperatures have reached an increase of 1.39°C above pre-industrial levels by the year 2025.
Concern over record temperatures and funding cuts
The report details that this increase is almost entirely attributable to human activities, with 1.37°C of the rise due to these causes. Experts from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warn that human-induced global warming could reach the critical threshold of 1.5°C by 2030.
The situation is worsened by the threat of a super El Niño, which is expected to cause extreme ocean warming by 2026. Specialists express deep concern over the reduction of funds affecting the global capacity to monitor climate change.
Peter Thorne, a professor at Maynooth University, says that the current environmental indicators are comparable to the vital signs of a patient showing alarming signs. The global monitoring network is entering a state of active degradation for the first time.
Additionally, the report highlights the worsening of the Earth’s energy imbalance, an indicator of the difference between the energy entering and leaving the planet. Piers Forster, a professor at the University of Leeds, notes that this imbalance has reached a historic high, doubling since the 1970s.
Greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, while the reduction of aerosols, which previously cooled the atmosphere, leaves the planet more exposed. Although the growth rate of these emissions shows signs of slowing, carbon dioxide remains at record levels, with the carbon budget to keep warming below 1.5°C potentially depleting in three years.
The situation is further complicated by budget cut policies implemented by Donald Trump’s administration, which threaten future satellite and oceanic measurements. These decisions have led to the withdrawal of several critical monitoring instruments in deep waters.
The lack of funds is a global problem affecting several organizations, including the World Meteorological Organization, which also faces severe financial threats. A concerning reduction in measurements is observed in key places like Africa and South America.
The effects of global warming are evident in the rise of sea levels, which have increased 23 centimeters from 1901 to 2025, with an accelerated rate of 3.84 mm annually. Additionally, marine heatwaves have tripled since 1991, reaching an average of 65 days in 2025, severely affecting aquatic biodiversity.
