zeit.de
Record Warmth: January 2025 Sets New Global Temperature High
January 2025 registered as the warmest January ever recorded globally at 13.23 degrees Celsius (1.75 degrees above pre-industrial levels), accompanied by above-average rainfall and flooding in parts of Europe, while global sea surface temperatures reached the second highest on record.
- What were the key global temperature anomalies in January 2025, and what are the immediate implications?
- 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 continues a trend of record temperatures over the last two years, despite the cooling effect of La Niña.
- How did the weather patterns in Europe differ from the global average during January 2025, and what were the resulting impacts?
- The record warmth is based on billions of measurements from various sources worldwide. In Europe, January 2025 was exceptionally wet in many regions, leading to floods in some areas, while the average sea surface temperature was the second highest ever recorded.
- What are the long-term implications of the observed temperature trends in light of the Paris Agreement's 1.5-degree Celsius target, and what factors should be considered for accurate climate modeling?
- The 1.5-degree Celsius warming limit set by the Paris Agreement has not yet been officially breached, as this threshold considers longer-term averages. However, the continued record temperatures highlight the urgency of climate action and the potential for more frequent extreme weather events.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The headline and opening sentences emphasize the record-breaking temperature. While factually accurate, this framing may unintentionally downplay other significant aspects of the report, such as the regional variations in precipitation. The emphasis on the record high temperature could also alarm readers disproportionately to the overall long-term climate trend.
Language Bias
The language is largely neutral and factual, using terms like "overdurchschnittlich nass" (above average wet) which is appropriately translated. However, the choice to repeatedly emphasize "Rekordtemperaturen" (record temperatures) might influence reader perception by highlighting the negative aspect of climate change more than other potential implications.
Bias by Omission
The report focuses on temperature data and mentions extreme weather events like flooding, but lacks details on specific socioeconomic impacts of the record temperatures, such as effects on agriculture, human health, or displacement. Further analysis of regional variations in temperature increase beyond Europe would provide a more comprehensive picture.
False Dichotomy
The article presents the 1.5-degree warming limit of the Paris Agreement as a binary eitheor scenario. While exceeding 1.5 degrees in a single month doesn't automatically mean the agreement's goal is missed, the nuance of long-term averages vs. short-term spikes is not fully explained.
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 indicates a negative impact on climate action goals, showing continued warming trends despite efforts to mitigate climate change. The mention of the 1.5-degree target from the Paris Agreement being exceeded for 18 out of 19 months further underscores the urgency and severity of the climate crisis.