Copernicus report indicates 2026 is on track to be the second hottest year on record

The European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service announced that 2026 is on track to become the second-hottest year in recorded history. Data shows there is a 20% probability that the current year could match or exceed 2024 as the warmest year ever documented. Furthermore, it is considered almost certain that global temperatures in 2026 will rise more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, with the four-year average from 2023 to 2026 also projected to surpass this critical threshold established in the Paris Agreement.

Contributing factors to these record-breaking temperatures include human-induced global warming compounded by an exceptionally strong El Niño event. October 2026 marked the third consecutive month of extreme heat, with global surface air temperatures reaching 1.75°C above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial baseline. This data highlights the accelerating pace of climate change and underscores the urgency of addressing global environmental challenges to mitigate the most severe impacts of rising temperatures.