An annual climate assessment published in BioScience on October 14 finds seven of 16 planetary indicators at record extremes, with several trends accelerating and researchers warning that Earth’s climate system is moving into increasingly unstable territory.
The records include global sea level and ocean heat, the Greenland ice sheet’s mass and worldwide glacier thickness, along with record atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. Carbon dioxide topped 428 parts per million in May—about 50% above preindustrial levels, according to the report. The authors estimate that the pace of global warming rose from about 0.19°C per decade between 1970 and 2010 to roughly 0.36°C per decade from 2010 onward.
They also report that fossil-fuel consumption increased 0.9% in 2025, with oil, coal and gas use reaching new highs. The scientists warn that faster warming could intensify risks of crossing climate tipping points, including abrupt changes involving ocean circulation, ice sheets and the Amazon rainforest. They also point to possible paths forward, including rapid emissions cuts, adaptation measures and ecosystem protection.
The annual report tracks both climate conditions and human activities driving change, aiming to show where pressures are worsening and where progress may be possible.