Climate Change Pushes Earth’s Vital Signs to Record Levels

Vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate and body temperature help assess human health. Similarly, 16 key indicators are used to evaluate the health of the planet. A study by researchers at Oregon State University has found that seven of these indicators have reached unprecedented levels. The report also states that energy-related carbon emissions have crossed 41 gigatonnes for the first time. Titled 2026 State of the Climate Report, the study was published in the journal BioScience.

According to the report, atmospheric carbon dioxide levels reached 428 parts per million by May 2026. Methane levels climbed to 1,940 parts per billion, while nitrous oxide reached 340 parts per billion. Rising global temperatures have pushed sea levels to record highs and caused ocean surface waters to warm significantly. The report links these conditions to the development of a super El Niño. Researchers also found that Greenland’s ice sheet mass and the thickness of glaciers worldwide had fallen to record lows.