Arctic Smashes Hottest Year Record: Scientists Warn of Global Climate Crisis

• Arctic recorded its warmest year ever from October 2024 to September 2025, with temperatures 1.6°C above the 1991–2020 baseline.
• The region is warming nearly four times faster than the global average due to Arctic amplification, where melting sea ice exposes heat-absorbing ocean water.
• Spring sea ice reached its lowest maximum extent in 47 years, impacting wildlife and reducing the Arctic's ability to reflect sunlight.
• Rapid Arctic warming can disrupt global weather patterns, influencing jet streams and potentially amplifying extreme weather events worldwide.
• Scientists emphasize the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, viewing the Arctic as an early warning system for planetary climate change.

Why It Matters: Arctic's record heat signals urgent global climate crisis, demanding immediate emission reductions.