April 2025 was the second-hottest April ever recorded, with average global surface air temperatures reaching 14.96°C—0.60°C higher than the 1991–2020 average, and just 0.07°C below the record set in April 2024. The data, released by Europe’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, provides another stark reminder of the intensifying climate crisis.
Global temperatures 1.51°C above pre-industrial levels
Last month’s global temperatures were 1.51°C warmer than pre-industrial levels (1850–1900), underscoring the continued warming trend driven by greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels. This warming surpasses the 1.5°C threshold set as a critical limit in the Paris Agreement, which aims to avoid the most severe consequences of climate change.
Human activity remains the primary driver
Scientists have consistently linked rising global temperatures to anthropogenic activities, including deforestation, industrial emissions, and the large-scale use of coal, oil, and natural gas. These activities release carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere, leading to global warming and intensifying extreme weather patterns.
Heat records bring cascading climate impacts
Extreme heatwaves, prolonged droughts, intense storms, and rising sea levels are becoming more frequent and severe. The record-setting temperatures in April are part of a concerning trend that threatens food security, water availability, and public health across regions, particularly affecting vulnerable populations in low-lying and developing countries.
Need for consistent climate monitoring and urgent action
Climate experts emphasize the importance of continuous monitoring and accurate reporting of global temperatures to track changes and predict future risks. More importantly, they call for urgent policy interventions, accelerated decarbonization efforts, and global cooperation to reduce emissions and build climate resilience.
April’s heat may be behind us, but the warning it carries is clear: the world is heating up fast, and inaction is no longer an option. Will your region be ready for what comes next?