We are hurtling toward climate chaos. The planet's vital signs are flashing red. The consequences of human-driven alterations of the
climate are no longer future threats but are here now. This unfolding emergency stems from failed foresight, political inaction,
unsustainable economic systems, and misinformation. Almost every corner of the biosphere is reeling from intensifying heat, storms,
floods, droughts, or fires. The window to prevent the worst outcomes is rapidly closing.

Key Highlights
• The year 2024 set a new mean global surface temperature record, signaling an escalation of climate upheaval.

• Currently, 22 of 34 planetary vital signs are at record levels.

• Warming may be accelerating, likely driven by reduced aerosol cooling, strong cloud feedbacks, and a darkening planet.

• The human enterprise is driving ecological overshoot. Population, livestock, meat consumption, and gross domestic
product are all at record highs, with an additional approximately 1.3 million humans and 0.5 million ruminants added weekly.

• In 2024, fossil fuel energy consumption hit a record high, with coal, oil, and gas all at peak levels. Combined solar and
wind consumption also set a new record but was 31 times lower than fossil fuel energy consumption.

• So far, in 2025, atmospheric carbon dioxide is at a record level, likely worsened by a sudden drop in land carbon uptake
partly due to El Niño and intense forest fires.

• Global fire-related tree cover loss reached an all-time high, with fires in tropical primary forest up 370% over 2023,
fueling rising emissions and biodiversity loss.

• Ocean heat content reached a record high, contributing to the largest coral bleaching event ever recorded,
affecting 84% of reef area.

• So far, in 2025, Greenland and Antarctic ice mass are at record lows. The Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets
may be passing tipping points, potentially committing the planet to meters of sea-level rise.

• Deadly and costly disasters surged, with Texas flooding killing at least 135 people, the California wildfires alone
exceeding US$250 billion in damages, and climate-linked disasters since 2000 globally reaching more than US$18 trillion.

• Climate change is endangering thousands of wild animal species; more than 3500 species are now at risk and
there is new evidence of climate-related animal population collapses.

• The Atlantic meridional overturning circulation is weakening, threatening major climate disruptions.

• Climate change is already affecting water quality and availability, undermining agricultural productivity, sustainable
water management, and increasing the risk of water-related conflict.

• A dangerous hothouse Earth trajectory may now be more likely due to accelerated warming, self-reinforcing
feedbacks, and tipping points.

• Climate change mitigation strategies are available, cost effective, and urgently needed. From forest protection
and renewables to plant-rich diets, we can still limit warming if we act boldly and quickly.

• Social tipping points can drive rapid change. Even small, sustained nonviolent movements can shift public
norms and policy, highlighting a vital path forward amid political gridlock and ecological crisis.

• There is a need for systems change that links individual technical approaches with broader societal
transformation, governance, policies, and social movements.

Figure 1.Time series of climate-related human activities. In panel (f), tree cover loss does not account for forest gain
and includes loss due to any cause. For panel (h), statistics are based on total energy supply (Energy Institute 2025);
hydroelectricity and nuclear energy are shown in supplemental figure S2. Sources and additional details about each
variable are provided in supplemental file S1.

Figure 2.Time series of climate-related responses. For surface temperature anomaly (d), estimates based on a
segmented linear regression model are shown in gray (prior to 2010) and black (beginning in 2010). For area burned
(o), the black horizontal lines show changepoint model estimates, which indicate abrupt shifts (supplemental figure S3).
For other variables with relatively high variability, local regression trendlines are shown in black. The variables were
measured at various frequencies (e.g., annual, monthly, weekly). The labels on the x-axis correspond to midpoints of years.
Sources and additional details about each variable are provided in supplemental file S1.

The SF6 gas alone has no immediate impact on the environment due to its inert nature. Despite that, the staggering global warming potential it has can cause a serious problem in the long run. It is a greenhouse gas that accumulates in the atmosphere which captures the heat released from the earth’s surface and reflects it.

The disposal methods for SF6 involves the complete decomposition of the gas which is categorized into the conventional and advanced approaches. Incineration is the most common conventional method being practiced. The issues associated with cost and toxic by-products formation sparked the search and development for alternative technologies such as NTP.

Based on the literature as a whole, the only issues that are hindering the NTP techniques from maturing are the combination of power supply, additive gases, flowrates, concentrations and length of reactor that will result in the highest possible decomposition efficiency of SF6 and the removal of its toxic counterparts from being released to the environment. The experiments mainly focus on small-scale plasma systems that utilize very small volumes and flowrates.

The most common use for and largest emission source of SF6, both domestically and internationally, is as an electrical insulator in high-voltage equipment that transmits and distributes electricity. Approximately 67% of all SF6 emissions in the United States is attributed to the electrical transmission and distribution sector in 2022 based on the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks.

SF6-containing equipment is designed to avoid emitting any of this gas into the atmosphere. However, SF6 gas can inadvertently escape as leaks develop during various stages of the equipment's lifecycle, including manufacturing, installation, maintenance and servicing, and de-commissioning. In some cases, significant leaks can occur from aging equipment.

Several factors affect SF6 emissions from electric power systems, such as the type and age of the SF6-containing equipment (e.g., old circuit breakers can contain up to 2,000 pounds of SF6, while modern breakers usually contain less than 100 pounds) and the handling and maintenance procedures practiced by electric utilities.