2025 Was Earth's Third-Hottest Year — What That Means for Your Daily UV Dose
Copernicus just confirmed 2025 as the planet's third-warmest year — and warming seasons are nudging sunscreen from a summer habit to a year-round one.
Copernicus confirmed 2025 was the third-warmest year on record at 14.97°C globally — about 1.47°C above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial level, and only 0.01°C cooler than 2023.
Climate scientists at Copernicus and ECMWF stress that records this close together signal a sustained warming trend rather than a one-off spike, with longer, hotter seasons increasing the cumulative UV most people encounter.
Questions we get a lot
How hot was 2025 compared with previous years?
Copernicus confirmed 2025 as the third-warmest year on record, with a global average of 14.97°C. That is about 1.47°C above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial level. It came in just 0.01°C cooler than 2023.
Does a hotter year mean more UV exposure?
Heat and UV aren't identical, but sustained warming tends to bring more clear-sky days and longer warm seasons, which can raise the cumulative UV people encounter. The near-record 2025 figures confirmed by Copernicus and ECMWF reflect that ongoing trend. It's a reasonable cue to treat sun protection as year-round.
Who confirmed 2025 as the third-hottest year?
The confirmation came from the Copernicus Climate Change Service, operated by ECMWF, which monitors global temperature records. Both organizations published the 14.97°C figure and its margin above pre-industrial levels. Their data is among the most widely cited for global climate monitoring.
r/climate: '2025 was the third-hottest year ever — does a warming climate actually change how much UV I'm exposed to day to day?'