Brussels:The EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) has projected that the year 2026 is virtually certain to exceed 1.5°C of global warming above pre-industrial levels, potentially becoming the second calendar year to do so following 2024.

According to Wam, the service clarified that surpassing the 1.5°C threshold in a single year does not signify a formal breach of the long-term climate threshold, which is evaluated based on sustained average temperatures over an extended period.

Copernicus forecasts that 2026 is likely to be the second-warmest year on record. The service estimated a 20 percent chance that 2026 could match or surpass the record set in 2024. Additionally, forecasts suggest that the average global temperature for the 2023-2026 period will also exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

October was reported as the warmest October on record globally, with the average surface air temperature standing 1.75°C above pre-industrial levels. This marked the third consecutive month in which global temperatures exceeded the 1.5°C threshold.