Record-Breaking Climate Trends in 2025
The year 2025 has marked a significant turning point in global climate patterns, as it has set new records for atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, glacial ice loss, and soil dryness. The latest findings from the BAMS State of the Climate report reveal a concerning trend: a rapid deterioration of various climate metrics correlating with the rising concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Dr Robert Dunn, the lead editor for the Global Climate chapter of the report, expressed that the conditions observed in 2025 are unprecedented when compared to the 20th century. He noted, “Temperatures soared well above average, and when viewed alongside the years 2024 and 2023, it’s clear that the last three years have been remarkable, surpassing records set merely a decade ago.”
Unprecedented Soil Moisture Levels
The report highlights that global soil moisture levels in 2025 reached their lowest point since satellite records began in 1991. This alarming trend was predominantly driven by particularly dry conditions in the Northern Hemisphere, especially in areas north of 55°N. Soil moisture is crucial for vegetation growth and directly affects surface air temperatures and extreme weather events, such as heatwaves and wildfires.
Continued Glacial Retreat
For the 38th consecutive year, glaciers have experienced a net loss of ice, with summer losses exceeding winter gains. This ongoing negative mass balance contributes to the thinning and reduction of glacier size. Since 1976, approximately 9,000 gigatonnes of water have been lost from glaciers, with 41% of that loss occurring in the last decade alone. Satellite imagery now indicates that at least 181 glaciers have officially been declared extinct.
Record Global Temperatures Persist
2025 has also been recorded as the warmest year on record, occurring without the influence of an El Niño event. The years 2023 to 2025 represent the three hottest years documented. All five global surface temperature datasets included in the report indicate that January 2025 was the warmest January recorded, with most months—excluding December—ranking among the top three warmest.
Surging Greenhouse Gas Levels
The concentrations of key greenhouse gases—carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane, and nitrous oxide—reached unprecedented levels in 2025. The average global CO₂ concentration hit 425.6±0.1 parts per million, reflecting a 53% increase from pre-industrial levels of approximately 278 ppm. Fossil fuel emissions also reached a record high, estimated at 10.3±0.5 petagrams of carbon per year, which is more than triple the emissions recorded in the 1960s.
The Human Influence on Climate Change
Dr Dunn reiterated the profound impact that rising greenhouse gas concentrations from fossil fuel combustion have on our environment. He stated, “The findings from this report make it evident that the conditions and events observed in 2025 are entirely consistent with the ongoing effects of human-induced climate change.”
The BAMS State of the Climate report is the 36th in its series and has seen contributions from over 600 scientists across 60 nations. It seeks to contextualise the events and conditions of the preceding year within the framework of long-term climatic changes. The Global Climate chapter, overseen by the Met Office, encompasses over 40 distinct metrics that illustrate the current state of our climate.
For additional insights, various metrics from the BAMS report are also available on the Met Office Climate Dashboard.