US President Donald Trump has once again suggested that the Earth may be entering a cooling phase, reviving a claim that has repeatedly drawn criticism from the scientific community. His remarks, made during a recent public appearance, have reignited debate—largely because they run counter to extensive global climate data.
Scientists emphasise that isolated weather events—such as short-term cold spells—cannot be used to assess long-term climate trends. Instead, global climate patterns are measured over decades, and the data consistently points in one direction: continued warming.
Data tells a different story
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), March 2026 ranked among the warmest on record. The global average surface temperature was 1.31°C (2.36°F) above the 20th-century average, tying with 2024 as the second-warmest March since records began in 1850.
Notably, NOAA reports that the ten highest March temperature anomalies have all occurred within the past decade—clear evidence of an accelerating warming trend.
Similarly, the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) found that global surface air temperatures in March 2026 were approximately 1.48°C above pre-industrial levels (1850–1900). Sea surface temperatures also ranked among the highest ever recorded, reflecting a steady accumulation of heat in the world’s oceans.
Weather vs climate: a crucial distinction
Experts stress the importance of distinguishing between weather and climate. While weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions, climate reflects long-term patterns.
Cold days or regional weather fluctuations do not contradict global warming. In fact, scientists note that such variability can still occur within an overall warming system driven by rising greenhouse gas concentrations.
Politics and climate science collide
Trump has frequently used public platforms to question mainstream climate science, often linking cold weather events to broader claims about global cooling. However, scientific organisations worldwide continue to reject this interpretation.
Researchers maintain that decades of data—across land, sea, and atmospheric measurements—demonstrate a clear and sustained increase in global temperatures.
The latest data reinforces that conclusion, underscoring a widening gap between political rhetoric and scientific consensus on climate change.
