The planet is heading for another year of extreme heat, with 2026 likely to rank as the second-hottest year ever recorded as an exceptionally strong El Niño adds to the warming caused by human activities. The warning comes as global temperatures continue to hover above the critical 1.5°C threshold, raising fresh concerns about the pace of climate change.
According to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service, 2026 has a 20 per cent chance of matching or surpassing 2024 as the warmest year on record, while global temperatures are virtually certain to exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels this year.
The four-year average global temperature from 2023 to 2026 is also expected to exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, marking a significant warning for the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting long-term global warming to 1.5°C.
October 2026 was the warmest October ever recorded, with global average surface air temperatures reaching 1.75°C above pre-industrial levels (1850-1900), according to Copernicus.
It also marked the third consecutive month in which global temperatures exceeded the 1.5°C threshold.
"October has continued the pattern of remarkable global warmth,…