Over the last 19 months, 18 have seen global average surface temperatures at least 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, continuing a concerning trend of record-breaking temperatures.

Meteorologists expected global temperatures to start falling after record highs in 2023 and 2024 – instead January 2025 hit a new high

"January 2025 is another surprising month, continuing the record temperatures observed throughout the last two years, despite the development of La Niña conditions in the tropical Pacific and their temporary cooling effect on global temperatures," said Samantha Burgess of the Copernicus Climate Change Service.