Skipping Ahead: 1.5°C Arrived a Decade Early

Source: Climate Copernicus EU

Over the past 11 years, the Earth has experienced record warm temperatures. Within the past 3 years, the global average temperatures have reached the threshold of 1.5°C. This specific temperature demonstrates the limit created by the Paris Agreement in an attempt to protect the Earth and all its inhabitants from the dangers of global warming. However, Data clearly displays life-altering information about the rapid and aggressive rise in global temperatures within the last year.

Why This Matters

• 3-year Average: 2023-2025 had 3-year average of global temperatures above the 1.5°C threshold for the first time in history.

• The Warmest Years on Record: 2015-2025 demonstrate the warmest years on record, showing over a decade-long trend.

• Cascading Effects: With the increase in temperature, many of earth’s ecosystems are severely impacted due to the lack of buffering. Oceans are abnormally warm, resulting in the destruction of earth’s valuable biodiversity and recycling of heat back into the atmosphere.

• Extreme Weather Impacts: Increased temperatures result in global heatwaves, longer marine heatwaves, frequent and intense precipitation events, extreme droughts risk, and many other destructive events that impact communities and businesses.

Source: Climate Copernicus EU

 Why are the 1.5°C and 2°C Thresholds Significant?

Recently, the 1.5°C and 2°C thresholds have surpassed pre-industrial average global temperatures. The ERA5 dataset displays that average temperatures from 1850-1900s have met or exceeded 1.5°C or above between June 2023 and June 2024. This demonstrates the significant rise in temperature over the years, emphasizing the idea that the earth is experiencing the warmest temperatures in recorded history. The Paris Agreement acknowledges a limit breach when a temperature increase becomes long-term, meaning that the temperature must stay over 1.5°C for approximately 30 years to be considered as a breach.

Global warming of 1.5°C above the pre-industrial era demonstrates will result in severe consequences for biodiversity and human life. This contributes to the loss of coral reefs throughout the ocean, which is home to a vast number of organisms, via anoxia and bleaching from ocean acidification. Currently, humans have induced warming at about 1.2°C which has already caused significant issues within the Earth’s ecosystems. With 2°C above the pre-industrial average global temperature, around 42% of organisms lose over half of their livable geographic ranges.

Spotlight: Paris Agreement 

The goal of the Paris Agreement is to keep the earth’s global average temperature far below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. Additionally, this multilateral agreement works to ensure that the global average temperatures stay below the 1.5°C threshold. The Paris Agreement strives to hold nearly all countries accountable to stay in line with this objective. It’s important to note that brief spells of warm weather don’t necessarily mean a breach of 1.5 °C.

How Do Humans Contribute to this Issue?

Human-induced warming contributes to the early arrival of the threshold temperature. Throughout 2025, Greenhouse Gases continue to rise. This has caused a variety of noticeable changes in the ecosystem.  Natural land and ocean carbon sinks have continued to absorb less than expected. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), human-induced levels of global warming range from 1.1°C to 1.6°C. By measuring current human-induced global warming and comparing it with that of pre-industrial temperatures, we can effectively hold corporations, governments, and multilateral institutions accountable.

Despite efforts to combat GHG emissions, concentrations continued to rise all of 2025, with CO₂ and methane growth remaining exceptionally high. Lower sulfur emissions result in less reflective cooling due to the cleaner air. In this case, there are tradeoffs for clean air.

Take Action

• Investors: Conservation finance is important for helping ecosystems that are impacted by this increasing in average global temperatures.

• Governments: Strengthen and enforce 1.5°C-aligned policies while expanding clean energy to encourage renewables.

• Companies: Work to engage in alleviation efforts, nature-based solutions, and establish flood/heat resilient infrastructure.

• Global Leaders: Initiate quick and effective adaptation measures while running mitigation efforts in parallel.