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2026 will be the hottest year on record, leading scientist predicts
Key takeaways
- The record is held by 2024, when global temperatures exceeded 1.5°C above the pre-industrial average for the first time.
- Shift in the Gulf Stream could signal ocean current collapse
- The second half of this year will almost certainly see the start of El Niño, a natural climate phase when warm water expands across the equatorial Pacific Ocean, heating the entire planet.
Why this matters: new research or scientific developments with potential real-world impact.
The second half of this year will almost certainly see the start of an El Niño phase that could lead to extreme heat across much of the globe, and James Hansen expects that to make this year surpass 2024 as the hottest on record
Twitter / X icon Linkedin Reddit Email 2026 has already seen extensive wildfires in Patagonia, Argentina, linked to extreme weather. A prominent scientist has predicted 2026 will be the hottest year on record, thanks to both climate change and a powerful El Niño effect that will raise temperatures further.
The record is held by 2024, when global temperatures exceeded 1.5°C above the pre-industrial average for the first time.
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