UN: 2026 on Track to Be One of Hottest Years on Record

The UN reported Monday that 2026 is on track to be one of the four hottest years on record, driven by a strong El Niño and continuing a decade-long warming trend. The finding comes as nations gather in Turkey for new climate negotiations. The World Meteorological Organization's "State of the Climate" report shows global average temperatures from January to September were 1.47 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with potential for further increases. All of the last 12 years, including 2026, rank among the 12 warmest since records began around 1850. The report also notes ocean temperatures have surpassed 2025 records, and global sea levels hit a new high due to melting ice and thermal expansion. The EU's Copernicus service said 2026 will likely be the second year after 2024 to exceed the 1.5-degree Celsius threshold set by the 2015 Paris Agreement.