May 2025 second warmest on record: EU climate monitor
[PARIS] Global heating continued as the new norm, with last month the second warmest May on record on land and in the oceans, according to the European Union's climate monitoring service.
The planet's average surface temperature dipped below the threshold of 1.5 degree Celsius above preindustrial levels, just shy of the record for May set last year, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service.
The same held for the world's oceans. With a surface temperature of 20.79 deg C, last month was second only to May 2024, with some unprecedented warmth regionally.
'Large areas in the northeast North Atlantic, which experienced a marine heatwave, had record surface temperatures for the month,' Copernicus reported. 'Most of the Mediterranean Sea was much warmer than average.'
The increasingly dire state of the oceans is front-and-centre at the third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC), which kicked off Monday in Nice, France.
Ocean heatwaves are driving marine species to migrate, damaging ecosystems, and reducing the ability of ocean layers to mix, thus hindering the distribution of nutrients.
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Covering 70 per cent of the globe's surface, oceans redistribute heat and play a crucial role in regulating Earth's climate.
Surface water warmed by climate change drive increasingly powerful storms, causing new levels of destruction and flooding in their wake.
Some parts of Europe, meanwhile, 'experienced their lowest levels of precipitation and soil moisture since at least 1979,' Copernicus noted.
Britain has been in the grips of its most intense drought in decades, with Denmark and the Netherlands also suffering from a lack of rain.
'Brief respite'
Earth's surface last month was 1.4 deg C above the preindustrial benchmark, defined as the average temperature from 1850 to 1900, before the massive use of fossil fuels caused the climate to dramatically warm.
'May 2025 interrupts an unprecedentedly long sequence of months above 1.5 deg C,' noted Carlo Buontempo, director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service.
All but one of the previous 22 months crossed this critical threshold, which marks the 2015 Paris Agreement's most ambitious target for capping global warming.
'This may offer a brief respite for the planet, but we expect the 1.5 deg C threshold to be exceeded again in the near future due to the continued warming of the climate system,' he added.
Over the 12-month period June 2024 to May 2025, warming averaged 1.57 deg C compared to the 1850-1900 benchmark.
The Paris treaty target, however, is pegged to a 20-year average, in order to account for the influence of natural variability.
The UN's climate science advisory panel, the IPCC, has said there's a 50-per cent change of breaching the 1.5 deg C barrier in line with these criteria between 2030 and 2035.
Using this method of calculation, the world today has warmed by at least 1.3 deg C.
The UN's World Meterological Organization (WMO), meanwhile, has said there's a 70 per cent chance the five-year period 2025-2029, on average, will exceed the 1.5 deg C limit.
Scientists stress the importance of limiting global warming as soon and as much as possible because every fraction of a degree increases the risks of more deadly and destructive impacts, on land and in the sea.
Limiting warming to 1.5 deg C rather than 2 deg C would significantly reduce the most catastrophic consequences, the IPCC concluded in a major report in 2018. AFP
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Straits Times
11 hours ago
- Straits Times
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He said Asia and South-east Asia have some of the world's most biodiverse waters. PHOTO: OCEANX On June 12, OceanX's co-chief executive and chief science officer Vincent Pieribone announced during an event aboard the OceanXplorer in Nice that the non-profit has received the Indonesian government's support for 'recurring OceanX expeditions and collaborative research, media and education projects in Indonesia'. Mr Pieribone said Indonesia has aspirations to be a leader in ocean conservation in South-east Asia, and that the OceanXplorer has capabilities that can supplement and further the work of the local scientists. For instance, the vessel is equipped with a helicopter pad that enabled an aerial survey of large marine animals during the last Indonesian expedition – obtaining records of blue whales and orcas in the area. 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Business Times
3 days ago
- Business Times
May 2025 second warmest on record: EU climate monitor
[PARIS] Global heating continued as the new norm, with last month the second warmest May on record on land and in the oceans, according to the European Union's climate monitoring service. The planet's average surface temperature dipped below the threshold of 1.5 degree Celsius above preindustrial levels, just shy of the record for May set last year, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service. The same held for the world's oceans. With a surface temperature of 20.79 deg C, last month was second only to May 2024, with some unprecedented warmth regionally. 'Large areas in the northeast North Atlantic, which experienced a marine heatwave, had record surface temperatures for the month,' Copernicus reported. 'Most of the Mediterranean Sea was much warmer than average.' The increasingly dire state of the oceans is front-and-centre at the third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC), which kicked off Monday in Nice, France. Ocean heatwaves are driving marine species to migrate, damaging ecosystems, and reducing the ability of ocean layers to mix, thus hindering the distribution of nutrients. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 12.30 pm ESG Insights An exclusive weekly report on the latest environmental, social and governance issues. Sign Up Sign Up Covering 70 per cent of the globe's surface, oceans redistribute heat and play a crucial role in regulating Earth's climate. Surface water warmed by climate change drive increasingly powerful storms, causing new levels of destruction and flooding in their wake. Some parts of Europe, meanwhile, 'experienced their lowest levels of precipitation and soil moisture since at least 1979,' Copernicus noted. Britain has been in the grips of its most intense drought in decades, with Denmark and the Netherlands also suffering from a lack of rain. 'Brief respite' Earth's surface last month was 1.4 deg C above the preindustrial benchmark, defined as the average temperature from 1850 to 1900, before the massive use of fossil fuels caused the climate to dramatically warm. 'May 2025 interrupts an unprecedentedly long sequence of months above 1.5 deg C,' noted Carlo Buontempo, director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service. All but one of the previous 22 months crossed this critical threshold, which marks the 2015 Paris Agreement's most ambitious target for capping global warming. 'This may offer a brief respite for the planet, but we expect the 1.5 deg C threshold to be exceeded again in the near future due to the continued warming of the climate system,' he added. Over the 12-month period June 2024 to May 2025, warming averaged 1.57 deg C compared to the 1850-1900 benchmark. The Paris treaty target, however, is pegged to a 20-year average, in order to account for the influence of natural variability. The UN's climate science advisory panel, the IPCC, has said there's a 50-per cent change of breaching the 1.5 deg C barrier in line with these criteria between 2030 and 2035. Using this method of calculation, the world today has warmed by at least 1.3 deg C. The UN's World Meterological Organization (WMO), meanwhile, has said there's a 70 per cent chance the five-year period 2025-2029, on average, will exceed the 1.5 deg C limit. Scientists stress the importance of limiting global warming as soon and as much as possible because every fraction of a degree increases the risks of more deadly and destructive impacts, on land and in the sea. Limiting warming to 1.5 deg C rather than 2 deg C would significantly reduce the most catastrophic consequences, the IPCC concluded in a major report in 2018. AFP
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Straits Times
S'pore researchers to go on deep sea expedition with non-profit OceanX in October: Vivian
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'We're proud to enable this next chapter of exploration into one of the region's least studied environments.' Dr Balakrishnan said Singapore believes the expedition will contribute to the shared global goals of advancing ocean science education and capacity building. In his address to the summit, which brings together 193 UN member states, the minister said the ocean is under severe threat from rising temperatures, acidification, overfishing and plastic pollution. 'As a low-lying coastal city state, Singapore is at risk due to rising sea levels, coastal erosion and the risk of flooding,' he added. These challenges demand a multilateral solution – one that is underpinned by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos), said Dr Balakrishnan. Unclos sets out the legal framework for all activities carried out in the oceans and seas. 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It also conducted ocean-related courses for fellow developing countries, such as on how coastal biodiversity can be managed under urban pressures. On the new commitments, Dr Balakrishnan pointed to Singapore's first seagrass restoration project, launched in September 2024, saying these ecosystems will contribute to global climate efforts given that these habitats are the 'lungs of the sea'. He also cited the 100k Corals Initiative, which was launched in December 2024 with the aim of planting 100,000 corals in Singapore's waters in the next decade and beyond. 'We believe this effort will support marine biodiversity and protect us from coral erosion in the seas around Singapore,' he added. Singapore will also continue to provide capacity building assistance to developing countries to address ocean-related challenges, Dr Balakrishnan said. The Republic has conducted over 60 courses for more than 1,600 foreign officials under the Singapore Cooperation Programme Sustainability Action Package. 'Over the next year, we will conduct more of such courses on the state of blue carbon science, policy, finance and achieving high quality outcomes,' he said. Dr Balakrishnan added: 'Singapore commits to working with all our partners to restore the health and to enhance the resilience of our oceans. The choices we make today will define the legacy we leave behind for our future generations.' Audrey Tan is an assistant news editor overseeing sustainability coverage. She has reported on the environment for more than a decade and hosts the Green Pulse podcast series. Find out more about climate change and how it could affect you on the ST microsite here.
