A new peer-reviewed report in BioScience says Earth's climate system moved deeper into uncharted territory in 2026. Researchers track 16 climate vital signs, and seven of them hit record extremes, including greenhouse gas levels, ocean temperatures, glacier mass, and the planet's energy imbalance. The report also says the warming rate has accelerated from roughly 0.05 degrees Celsius per decade before 1970 to 0.36 degrees Celsius per decade between 2010 and 2024. The authors warn that faster warming raises the risk of crossing tipping points, such as the permanent loss of coral reefs or self-reinforcing feedback loops from permafrost melt and wildfires. They note that renewable energy use is growing, but not nearly fast enough to stabilize the climate. The report calls for rapid emissions cuts, ecosystem protection, and adaptation measures to reduce the worst risks.
