Earth Heating Faster Than Ever as Warming Pace Doubles

A new scientific report finds that the Earth is heating faster than ever, with the pace of warming nearly doubling since 2015 ^[1].

This acceleration threatens to push the global climate system past the 1.5 °C limit established by the Paris Agreement. Surpassing this threshold could trigger more frequent and severe extreme weather events, making it harder for nations to adapt to a changing environment.

The study, published in 2024 ^[2], indicates that the rate of increase in global temperatures has seen an approximate two-fold increase since 2015 ^[1]. This rapid climb is driven by the continued accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which trap heat and raise the average planetary temperature.

Researchers said the current trajectory brings the planet close to the 1.5 °C warming threshold ^[3]. This figure represents the temperature increase above pre-industrial levels that scientists and policymakers have long sought to avoid to prevent the most catastrophic effects of climate change.

The report highlights a global trend in temperature rises, affecting all regions of the planet. By analyzing temperature data, the researchers identified that the warming process is not merely continuing but is speeding up, creating a shorter window for global mitigation efforts.

While the Paris Agreement aimed to limit warming to well below 2 °C and preferably to 1.5 °C, the findings suggest that the current pace of warming is challenging those goals. The data indicates that the window to maintain these limits is closing faster than previously estimated [1, 3].