The first month of the year was the world’s hottest January.
The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) said January was 1.75°C hotter than the average pre-industrial temperature for the month.
Under the Paris Agreement, countries have committed to keep temperatures from warming more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
Here’s what you need to know.
Hottest January on record
C3S found January 2025 temperatures were 0.79°C above the monthly average from 1991 to 2020, and 1.75°C above the pre-industrial era.
Temperatures were significantly above average across most of the world.
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C3S said average sea surface temperatures remained “unusually high,” but were 0.19°C below
C3S lead strategist Samantha Burgess said January was “another surprising month”.
“Warmer temperatures were recorded “despite the development of La Niña conditions in the tropical Pacific and their temporary cooling effect on global temperatures,” Burgess said.
Paris Agreement
In 2015, nearly 200 UN member states signed the Paris Agreement — a legally binding international treaty on climate change.
Leaders agreed to work towards limiting global average temperature increases to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
According to C3S, 18 of the last 19 months have exceeded this limit, including this year’s hottest January on record.
