May 2025 Was Earth’s Second-Hottest May on Record, Says Climate Report
Record Heatwave in Greenland Linked to Climate Change, Warn Scientists
The world just experienced its second-warmest May since global temperature records began, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). Only May 2024 was hotter, making the March-to-May period this year the second-hottest spring in the northern hemisphere’s recorded history.
In its latest monthly bulletin, C3S reported that global surface temperatures in May 2025 were on average 1.4°C higher than in the 1850–1900 pre-industrial baseline ; the era before widespread fossil fuel use.
This milestone marks a continuation of an alarming trend: 21 of the last 22 months have exceeded the critical 1.5°C threshold above pre-industrial levels. While May 2025 temporarily fell below that mark, experts warn the relief is likely short-lived.
“Whilst this may offer a brief respite for the planet, we do expect the 1.5°C threshold to be exceeded again in the near future due to the continued warming of the climate system,” said Carlo Buontempo, director of C3S.
The primary driver of global warming remains greenhouse gas emissions, mainly from the burning of fossil fuels. Last year was officially the hottest year on record.
Adding to concerns, a new study by the World Weather Attribution group found that human-induced climate change made last month’s heatwave in Greenland and Iceland approximately 3°C hotter than it would have been naturally. The extreme heat accelerated the melting of Greenland’s ice sheet – one of the planet’s largest sources of freshwater.
“Even cold-climate countries are experiencing unprecedented temperatures,” said Sarah Kew, co-author of the study and climate researcher at the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute.
The 1.5°C warming limit is the cornerstone target of the 2015 Paris Agreement, aimed at averting the most catastrophic consequences of climate change. Although the world hasn’t officially crossed that boundary over the long-term average, many scientists believe it is no longer realistically achievable without drastic global action.
Researchers and climate activists are now calling on governments to speed up reductions in carbon emissions to reduce the scale and severity of future warming and extreme weather events.
C3S’s temperature records date back to 1940, and are corroborated with historical data going as far back as 1850.
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