Canada predicts 2026 will likely be one of the hottest years on record, nearing 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

Canada forecasts 2026 will likely be among the hottest years on record, with global temperatures expected to range from 1.35°C to 1.53°C above pre-industrial levels, marking the 13th consecutive year above 1.0°C. The prediction, from Environment and Climate Change Canada, cites ongoing climate change and lingering El Niño effects, with a 12% chance of surpassing the 1.5°C Paris Agreement threshold—though a single year exceeding it doesn’t invalidate the long-term goal. The 2026–2030 period is projected to be the warmest five-year stretch in history. Canada is advancing emissions cuts through methane rules and carbon market reforms, emphasizing climate action as both a moral and economic imperative.