A new study published in Geophysical Research Letters delivers urgent news regarding the trajectory of climate change: global warming is no longer just a steady, linear trend, but is actively accelerating. While long-term historical data showed a consistent temperature rise averaging less than 0.2°C per decade between 1970 and 2015, a recent streak of record-breaking heat prompted scientists to investigate a potential shift in this pattern.
Led by Stefan Rahmstorf at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, the research team found concrete evidence that the rate of warming has nearly doubled. Earth’s temperatures surged by approximately 0.35°C in the single decade leading up to 2025, making it the fastest-warming decade in the historical record.
The implications of this acceleration are profound. The study warns that if this rapid pace is sustained, the critical 1.5°C warming threshold established by the Paris Agreement will be breached before the end of this decade. As Rahmstorf emphasises, the future rate of warming—and our ability to stabilise the climate—now hinges entirely on how swiftly humanity can phase out fossil fuels and drive global CO2 emissions down to zero. Read More
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