The Brian Lehrer Show Global Warming Arrives "Faster and Stronger" Than Expected
Mar 24, 2026
David Gelles, New York Times climate reporter who leads the Climate Forward newsletter, outlines why warming is accelerating faster than expected. He covers new research on post-2015 temperature trends. He explains changing ocean heat absorption, melting ice and feedback loops. He also discusses links to extreme weather, energy choices and geopolitical impacts.
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Recent Acceleration In Global Warming
- Global warming's pace has increased recently, suggesting a compounding effect as greenhouse gases accumulate.
- Researchers found the slope of surface-temperature rise has ticked up since 2015, implying feedbacks and lingering CO2 are intensifying warming.
Oceans Losing Their Cooling Power
- Oceans absorb roughly 90% of excess heat and are warming at an accelerating rate.
- New research shows the ocean's heat-absorption ability may be diminishing, reducing a critical planetary cooling mechanism.
Ice Loss Amplifies Heating Feedbacks
- Melting glaciers and sea ice reduce the planet's reflectivity, causing more solar energy absorption and faster warming.
- Antarctic sea ice recently hit four lowest readings in 47-year satellite records, contributing to a reinforcing feedback loop.