2026 is on track to be the warmest year on record
Carbon Brief's analysis of ERA5 data shows August 2026 was the hottest August on record, and with an El Niño developing in the tropical Pacific, 2026 is almost certain to surpass 2024 as the warmest year. Some climate models suggest this El Niño could be the strongest in more than a thousand years. The planet is running 1.34°C above the pre-industrial baseline, and Carbon Brief projects that 2027 could reach 1.74°C, which would be above the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C goal.Carbon Brief's analysis of ERA5 data shows August 2026 was the hottest August on record, and with an El Niño developing in the tropical Pacific, 2026 is almost certain to surpass 2024 as the warmest year. Some climate models suggest this El Niño could be the strongest in more than a thousand years. The planet is running 1.34°C above the pre-industrial baseline, and Carbon Brief projects that 2027 could reach 1.74°C, which would be above the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C goal.Expert summary pending. Showing the newcomer version.