Hansen: Yes, 2026 is on Track to be the Hottest Year

Projections of near-term climate change are a potential research tool. However, for that tool to be most useful, the physical basis for a prediction must be made clear. The basis for our projection of record 2026 global temperature is high climate sensitivity, with its implication that aerosol cooling was still increasing during the period 1970-2005. One consequence, global sea surface warming, already has important effects. Causes of climate change must be understood for policy purposes. https://earthclimate.eu/2026/06/17/hansen-yes-2026-is-on-track-to-be-the-hottest-year/