welt.de
Record Warmth: January 2025 Sets New Global Temperature High
January 2025 was the warmest January on record, with a global average temperature of 13.23 degrees Celsius (1.75 degrees above pre-industrial levels), causing above-average rainfall and flooding in parts of Europe, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service.
- What were the regional weather patterns in Europe during January 2025, and what were their consequences?
- The Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that most of Western Europe, parts of Italy, Scandinavia, and the Baltics experienced above-average rainfall in January 2025, leading to floods in some areas. The average global sea surface temperature was the second highest ever recorded.
- What was the global average temperature in January 2025, and how does it compare to pre-industrial levels and previous records?
- January 2025 was the warmest January on record, with a global average temperature of 13.23 degrees Celsius—1.75 degrees above pre-industrial levels. This follows a trend of record temperatures over the past two years, despite La Niña conditions.
- What is the significance of January 2025's temperature in relation to the Paris Agreement's 1.5-degree Celsius target, and what does it suggest about future trends?
- The 1.5-degree Celsius warming limit set by the Paris Agreement has not yet been officially breached, as the agreement uses a longer timeframe for assessment. However, January 2025 marks the 18th month out of 19 exceeding the 1.5-degree threshold, indicating a concerning trend.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The headline and introduction emphasize the record-breaking nature of the temperatures, framing the information in terms of extremes and unprecedented events. While factually accurate, this framing might overemphasize the alarming aspects and downplay the complexities of climate change.
Language Bias
The language used is largely neutral and factual. Terms like "surprising month" and "record temperatures" are descriptive but could be replaced with more neutral alternatives to lessen potential sensationalism. For example, 'unusually warm month' and 'high temperatures'.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses on the record-breaking temperatures in January 2025, but omits discussion of potential contributing factors beyond La Niña's temporary cooling effect. It also doesn't address the broader implications of these temperature increases on various ecosystems or socio-economic sectors. While acknowledging space constraints is reasonable, mentioning the lack of such context would improve the piece.
False Dichotomy
The article presents the 1.5-degree warming threshold from the Paris Agreement without fully exploring the nuances of how this target is measured and interpreted. It suggests the threshold isn't 'missed' based on a short timeframe, which simplifies a complex issue.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article reports that January 2025 was the warmest January on record, with a global temperature 1.75 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. This directly reflects negatively on the progress towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and efforts to limit global warming. The data underlines the accelerating pace of climate change and its tangible impacts, such as increased rainfall and flooding in Europe. The continued exceedance of the 1.5-degree warming threshold, though not yet a definitive breach of the Paris Agreement target due to the short timeframe, still signifies a critical trend.