January 2025 shatters temperature records despite cooling ‘La Niña’
January 2025 has set a new record as the warmest January globally, with temperatures 1.75°C above pre-industrial levels, defying expectations of cooling during the La Niña phase and intensifying concerns over accelerating climate change.
In a startling climatic development, January 2025 has been declared the warmest January on record globally. This unexpected temperature surge has left scientists concerned, especially given the anticipated cooling effects of ‘La Niña’ phenomenon, which typically moderates global temperatures. According to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service, global temperatures this month were 1.75°C above pre-industrial levels, marking a significant deviation from historical norms.
This unprecedented warmth is particularly alarming as it occurred despite the transition to 'La Niña', a climate pattern known for its cooling influence. The persistence of high temperatures during a period that should exhibit cooling trends underscores the intensifying impact of human-induced climate change. Data indicates that January 2025 was 0.09°C warmer than the previous record set in January 2024, highlighting a concerning upward trajectory in global temperatures.
Record-breaking global temperatures defy expectations
Recent data from Copernicus reveals that January 2025's global temperatures were 1.75°C above pre-industrial levels, setting a new record for the month. This increase is particularly surprising given the onset of ‘La Niña’ conditions, which typically bring cooler global temperatures. The fact that temperatures continued to rise despite this cooling phase underscores the overwhelming influence of anthropogenic factors on the climate.
The average surface air temperature was 55.81°F, which is 1.42°F above the 1991-2020 January average. Additionally, the global average temperature over the past 12 months reached 2.9°F above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial average. Last month’s temperature was unprecedented compared to similar global climate cycles in the past, where temperatures historically dropped once ‘El Niño’ ended and ‘La Niña’ conditions took hold. The magnitude and persistence of the increase have shocked many climate experts, leaving them puzzled about what other factors may be contributing to this remarkable rise.
Global surface air temperature anomalies in 2023 compared to the 1991-2020 average. Photo: ABC News.
Scientists express alarm over accelerating climate change
Climate experts are voicing heightened concern over these findings. The unexpected warmth during a 'La Niña' phase challenges previous climate models and suggests that the effects of global warming may be intensifying more rapidly than anticipated. This development calls for a reassessment of current climate projections and highlights the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
To further investigate this anomaly, climate scientists are eagerly awaiting the first batch of operational data from NASA's newest Earth-observing satellite, PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, Ocean Ecosystem), launched nearly a year ago. This data is expected to provide deeper insights into how various atmospheric aerosols behave and interact with one another.