EU - 2025 Third Hottest Year on Earth

Last year was the third-warmest in modern history, according to Copernicus, the European Union’s climate change monitoring service.

In 2025, the average global temperature was about 1.47 degrees Celsius (2.65 Fahrenheit) higher than from 1850 to 1900—the period scientists use as a reference point, since it precedes the industrial era in which massive amounts of carbon pollution have been pumped into the atmosphere.

U.S. agencies released similar temperature statistics. According to a report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, annual temperatures across the U.S. ranked as the third-warmest in its temperature record, which dates back to 1850.

While greenhouse gas emissions are the primary driver of rising global temperatures, natural variability can play a role. The La Niña pattern, in which cooler-than-average water dominates the central Pacific, tends to dampen global temperatures, while El Niño tends to raise them.

-www.nbcnews.com, 13 January 2026

Commentary: One must take into consideration that in 1850, the world’s population was about 1.2 billion; today, it is 8.2 billion. Quite naturally, more people are utilizing more machinery than ever before; thus, increased temperature is to be expected.

Based on our understanding of Scripture, the world will continue to exist until He will indeed destroy civilization by heat: “Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” (2 Peter 3:12).

Here we must add the next verse: “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (verse 13).