EARLIER this month, the American Meteorological Society (AMS) released its annual State of the Climate report for the year 2025, and the findings contain almost no good news about the state of the Earth’s environment. As we grapple with the consequences of an ever-worsening climate here in the Philippines — including stark reminders such as the rains and flooding that afflicted large areas of the country earlier this month, and from which some communities have yet to recover — data such as that provided by the AMS report is invaluable in planning adaptation. And perhaps, just as importantly, it provides solid, evidence-based rejection of the irresponsible and dangerous assertions of some political and opinion leaders who seek to downplay or interfere with sensible climate action.
Some of the more alarming findings of the State of the Climate report include the world’s oceans reaching record high average temperatures for the third year in a row, which is even more significant when one considers that these measurements were recorded before the onset of the current El Niño conditions. The report also discovered that important carbon sinks in northern forests and tundra are now releasing more carbon dioxide (CO2) than they absorb, due to warming temperatures melting the arctic permafrost, and that the Greenland Ice Sheet, the second-largest reserve of fresh water on Earth, lost about 129 metric gigatons of ice due to melting — that is 129 billion metric tons, or 129 trillion liters, equal to about 15 months’ consumption for the entire Philippines. To visualize the ice loss in a different way, the AMS and United States National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) scientists that prepared the report said the ice lost from Greenland would form a cube of about five kilometers’ length and width per side.
The report also found that global cloud cover in 2025 was the second-lowest since satellite observations began in 1980, which contributed to higher global temperatures due to less solar radiation being reflected back into space. In addition to less reflective cloud cover, the report also noted a significant degree of “surface darkening” on the planet, due to large areas being burned by wildfires, less snowfall that melted earlier in the year than previously, and retreating glaciers in mountainous regions. Darker land surfaces absorb more heat, leading to a destructive loop of ever-increasing temperatures. Along with higher temperatures, ocean acidification, which is one of the side effects of warmer conditions, as the oceans absorb about 90 percent of the combined solar radiation and excess heat produced by human activity, accelerated in 2025 to an average of 0.45 percent per decade. This is increasingly disruptive to marine food chains, which eventually lead to reduced food supplies for people.
Focus on adaptation
The most worrisome conclusion from the report is that none of these effects are slowing down, and in fact are accelerating in most cases. The study highlights the correlation between the continuing increase in CO2 emissions — which have been higher every year, despite efforts to reduce them, for at least the last 30 years — and the increasingly dire climate indicators, although it carefully avoids using the term “climate change,” perhaps to avoid ideological criticism from governments such as the US.
In a statement attached to the report, Alan Sealls, president of the AMS, said the report’s key takeaway was that climate extremes that impact communities and economies “show no signs of diminishing.” That means continued climate disruptions, particularly the rising intensity and persistence of extremes shouldn’t be underestimated “compared to what the past delivered.”
Sealls’ advice is stark and to the point. “Take personal action in becoming more resilient,” he said, “and encourage your political representatives to protect and fortify your community, knowing the changes that are happening.”
That is good advice for the Philippines; the disastrous and somewhat unexpected flooding that we have recently experienced can be considered a sign of things to come, and a warning that such events are only going to become more intense and more frequent. As the Philippines is not a significant contributor to global warming, being the source of only about 0.7 percent of global emissions, our focus should be on adaptation — learning to live with the effects of a changing climate — rather than mitigation.
For the most part, our current government policy acknowledges this. However, much work needs to be done to prioritize activities correctly, curb corruption and streamline development processes.
