A new assessment by the Indicators of Global Climate Change (IGCC) project, involving more than 70 scientists from 56 institutions across 17 countries, has found that human activities drove global warming to approximately 1.37°C above pre-industrial levels in 2025. Led by climate scientist Piers Forster, the study attributes the increase primarily to the continued burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial activities that release carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The findings show that human-induced warming is edging closer to the 1.5°C threshold identified by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change as a key limit for avoiding the most severe impacts of climate change.
Researchers warn that rising global temperatures are already intensifying heatwaves, droughts, floods, wildfires, and sea-level rise across many parts of the world. While natural climate patterns can affect temperatures from one year to the next, the study concludes that the long-term warming trend is overwhelmingly driven by human activities. Scientists involved in the report estimate that, if greenhouse gas emissions remain at current levels, the world could exceed 1.5°C of human-caused warming within the next few years. The authors emphasize that rapid emissions reductions, expanded renewable energy deployment, and stronger protection of forests and ecosystems are essential to slow warming and reduce climate risks for future generations. More