European Union scientists report that May 2025 was the world’s second-warmest May on record, following similar findings for March and April, as global temperatures continue to exceed historical averages.
According to the European Union’s Copernicus climate monitoring agency, last month was the world’s second-warmest May on record. This finding follows reports that April was also the second-warmest April globally, and March was the warmest March on record.
The Copernicus agency’s monthly update found that May 2025 was 1.4 degrees Celsius above preindustrial average levels. This reading ended an unprecedented sequence of months with temperatures over 1.5C above preindustrial times.
Carlo Buontempo, director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, stated, “whilst this may offer a brief respite for the planet, we do expect the 1.5C threshold to be exceeded again in the near future due to the continued warming of the climate system.”
Copernicus scientists also reported that northwestern Europe experienced an “exceptionally dry spring.” Parts of the region saw “the lowest precipitation and soil moisture levels since at least 1979,” resulting in “the lowest spring river flow across Europe since records began in 1992.”
The rise in global temperatures is primarily attributed to the continuous burning of fossil fuels including coal, oil, and natural gas. Under the Paris climate agreement of 2015, countries committed to keeping global warming below 2C—and ideally under 1.5C—above preindustrial levels. The European Union has also pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve climate neutrality by mid-century under the Green Deal.
