Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Tuesday, Dec 16, 2025

Record-Breaking Global Warming: 12 Consecutive Months Above Pre-Industrial Average, UN Warns of Climate Crisis

Record-Breaking Global Warming: 12 Consecutive Months Above Pre-Industrial Average, UN Warns of Climate Crisis

The EU's climate change monitoring service, Copernicus, reported that each of the past 12 months was the warmest on record, with an average global temperature of 1.63 degrees Celsius (2.9 degrees Fahrenheit) above the pre-industrial average.
This makes it the warmest 12-month period since record-keeping began in 1940.

However, this 12-month average does not mean the world has surpassed the 1.5 C (2.7 F) global warming threshold, which describes a temperature average over decades.

The UN's World Meteorological Organization (WMO) also reported an 80% chance that at least one of the next five years will have an average temperature temporarily exceeding 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, up from a 66% chance last year.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged urgent action to prevent "climate hell." UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the world is moving away from stabilizing its climate system at an alarming rate.

In 2015, the chance of exceeding the 1.5-degree Celsius limit was close to zero, but with time running out, Guterres called for a 30% reduction in global fossil fuel production and use by 2030.

Last year, carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels reached a record high, despite efforts to reduce their release and the expansion of renewable energy.

Guterres described the current situation as being "way off track" and emphasized that the battle to keep global temperatures from rising by 1.5 degrees would be won or lost in the 2020s.

The world's energy is predominantly coming from coal, oil, and gas, with oil demand continuing to be robust.

However, the latest climate data indicate that the world is not on track to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the key target of the 2015 Paris Accord.

WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett urged for more action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, warning of the significant economic, human, and environmental costs of inaction.

The upcoming La Nina weather conditions, which may bring some cooling, are described as a temporary relief in the face of global warming trends.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported that 2023 is on track to be one of the five warmest years on record, with temperatures 1.45 degrees Celsius (2.61 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels.

Scientists at Copernicus also noted surprising developments, such as the rapid loss of Antarctic sea ice.

Copernicus Director Carlo Buontempo stated that the climate data align with projections of how rising greenhouse gas emissions will heat the planet.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres criticized fossil fuel companies, accusing them of contributing to "climate chaos" and profiting from record profits and taxpayer subsidies.

The speaker is calling for a ban on advertising from fossil fuel companies, comparing it to restrictions on harmful substances like tobacco.

They are urging governments, news media, and tech companies to stop accepting fossil fuel advertising.
#ANT 
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Saudi Arabia Condemns Sydney Bondi Beach Shooting and Expresses Solidarity with Australia
Washington Watches Beijing–Riyadh Rapprochement as Strategic Balance Shifts
Saudi Arabia Urges Stronger Partnerships and Efficient Aid Delivery at OCHA Donor Support Meeting in Geneva
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 Drives Measurable Lift in Global Reputation and Influence
Alcohol Policies Vary Widely Across Muslim-Majority Countries, With Many Permitting Consumption Under Specific Rules
Saudi Arabia Clarifies No Formal Ban on Photography at Holy Mosques for Hajj 2026
Libya and Saudi Arabia Sign Strategic MoU to Boost Telecommunications Cooperation
Elon Musk’s xAI Announces Landmark 500-Megawatt AI Data Center in Saudi Arabia
Israel Moves to Safeguard Regional Stability as F-35 Sales Debate Intensifies
Cardi B to Make Historic Saudi Arabia Debut at Soundstorm 2025 Festival
U.S. Democratic Lawmakers Raise National Security and Influence Concerns Over Paramount’s Hostile Bid for Warner Bros. Discovery
Hackers Are Hiding Malware in Open-Source Tools and IDE Extensions
Traveling to USA? Homeland Security moving toward requiring foreign travelers to share social media history
Wall Street Analysts Clash With Riyadh Over Saudi Arabia’s Deficit Outlook
Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Cement $1 Trillion-Plus Deals in High-Profile White House Summit
Saudi Arabia Opens Alcohol Sales to Wealthy Non-Muslim Residents Under New Access Rules
U.S.–Saudi Rethink Deepens — Washington Moves Ahead Without Linking Riyadh to Israel Normalisation
Saudi Arabia and Israel Deprioritise Diplomacy: Normalisation No Longer a Middle-East Priority
Saudi Arabia Positions Itself as the Backbone of the Global AI Era
As Trump Deepens Ties with Saudi Arabia, Push for Israel Normalization Takes a Back Seat
Thai Food Village Debuts at Saudi Feast Food Festival 2025 Under Thai Commerce Minister Suphajee’s Lead
Saudi Arabia Sharpens Its Strategic Vision as Economic Transformation Enters New Phase
Saudi Arabia Projects $44 Billion Budget Shortfall in 2026 as Economy Rebalances
OPEC+ Unveils New Capacity-Based System to Anchor Future Oil Output Levels
Will Saudi Arabia End Up Bankrolling Israel’s Post-Ceasefire Order in Lebanon?
Saudi Arabia’s SAMAI Initiative Surpasses One-Million-Citizen Milestone in National AI Upskilling Drive
Saudi Arabia’s Specialty Coffee Market Set to Surge as Demand Soars and New Exhibition Drops in December
Saudi Arabia Moves to Open Two New Alcohol Stores for Foreigners Under Vision 2030 Reform
Saudi Arabia’s AI Ambitions Gain Momentum — but Water, Talent and Infrastructure Pose Major Hurdles
Tensions Surface in Trump-MBS Talks as Saudi Pushes Back on Israel Normalisation
Saudi Arabia Signals Major Maritime Crack-Down on Houthi Routes in Red Sea
Italy and Saudi Arabia Seal Over 20 Strategic Deals at Business Forum in Riyadh
COP30 Ends Without Fossil Fuel Phase-Out as US, Saudi Arabia and Russia Align in Obstruction Role
Saudi-Portuguese Economic Horizons Expand Through Strategic Business Council
DHL Commits $150 Million for Landmark Logistics Hub in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Aramco Weighs Disposals Amid $10 Billion-Plus Asset Sales Discussion
Trump Hosts Saudi Crown Prince for Major Defence and Investment Agreements
Families Accuse OpenAI of Enabling ‘AI-Driven Delusions’ After Multiple Suicides
Riyadh Metro Records Over One Hundred Million Journeys as Saudi Capital Accelerates Transit Era
Trump’s Grand Saudi Welcome Highlights U.S.–Riyadh Pivot as Israel Watches Warily
U.S. Set to Sell F-35 Jets to Saudi Arabia in Major Strategic Shift
Saudi Arabia Doubles Down on U.S. Partnership in Strategic Move
Saudi Arabia Charts Tech and Nuclear Leap Under Crown Prince’s U.S. Visit
Trump Elevates Saudi Arabia to Major Non-NATO Ally Amid Defense Deal
Trump Elevates Saudi Arabia to Major Non-NATO Ally as MBS Visit Yields Deepened Ties
Iran Appeals to Saudi Arabia to Mediate Restart of U.S. Nuclear Talks
Musk, Barra and Ford Join Trump in Lavish White House Dinner for Saudi Crown Prince
Lawmaker Seeks Declassification of ‘Shocking’ 2019 Call Between Trump and Saudi Crown Prince
US and Saudi Arabia Forge Strategic Defence Pact Featuring F-35 Sale and $1 Trillion Investment Pledge
Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund Emerges as Key Contender in Warner Bros. Discovery Sale
×