Scientists predict 2026 hottest year on record as climate talks begin
The world is on course for its hottest year on record as the planet is hit with warming from climate change and El Niño, scientists have told BBC News.
Scientists expect 2026 to be the hottest year on record as the effects of climate change and El Niño continue, according to an independent US research group. The warning comes as world leaders and negotiators convene in Turkey for the beginning of COP31, the latest UN climate summit. Berkeley Earth, the research group, states with 95% confidence that 2026 will surpass the previous record set in 2024, even with two months of the year remaining.
Dr. Robert Rohde of Berkeley Earth says that a series of record warm years is consistent with the progression of global warming, which has led to glaciers collapsing and record-breaking heatwaves and droughts. The EU's Copernicus climate service confirmed that October was the hottest month on record, but Dr. Rohde warns that this is just the beginning, as there is potential for more dramatic changes in the future.
The main driver of rising global temperatures is the increasing concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, primarily caused by burning fossil fuels. The UN's World Meteorological Organization (WMO) also forecasted that 2026 will be among the four warmest years on record, with 2027 expected to be even warmer due to an unusually strong El Niño expected to continue into the following year.
This highlights the challenge facing negotiators at COP31, who must address both reducing emissions and adapting to new weather extremes as the planet continues to warm. The urgency of the situation is expected to drive progress, but no single COP can bridge the gap between scientific understanding and real-world implementation.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
