The Tibetan Plateau (TP), the highest and most extensive highland in the world, is referred to as the 'Third Pole' and plays a crucial role in regional and global climate due to its thermal and mechanical forcing. It is the largest non-polar region with a cryospheric extent and the source of major Asian rivers, making it a key driver of environmental change. Recent studies show significant warming in the TP over the last decades, with temperatures increasing by 0.16°C per decade. This warming is primarily due to greenhouse gas emissions, but also influenced by changes in cloud cover, snow-albedo feedback, Asian brown clouds, and land use changes. The cryosphere is undergoing rapid changes, including glacier retreat, inconsistent snow cover, increased permafrost temperatures, and thickening of the active layer. Hydrological processes related to glacial retreat have been a focus of recent research. Future attention should be given to climate extremes, reanalysis reliability, and spatial comparisons. Spatial issues include elevation dependency and weekend effects. Data gaps above 5000 m asl limit understanding. The TP is experiencing significant climate change, with temperature extremes showing warming trends, precipitation showing less consistency, and permafrost degradation. The mechanisms of warming include anthropogenic greenhouse gases, cloud changes, snow/ice-albedo feedback, and land use changes. New perspectives include the 'weekend effect' and the role of anthropogenic aerosols. Reanalyses are important for climate variability but show discrepancies. The TP's climate is influenced by global models, and future studies need to address data quality and homogeneity. The TP's unique position and complex topography make it a critical area for climate research.The Tibetan Plateau (TP), the highest and most extensive highland in the world, is referred to as the 'Third Pole' and plays a crucial role in regional and global climate due to its thermal and mechanical forcing. It is the largest non-polar region with a cryospheric extent and the source of major Asian rivers, making it a key driver of environmental change. Recent studies show significant warming in the TP over the last decades, with temperatures increasing by 0.16°C per decade. This warming is primarily due to greenhouse gas emissions, but also influenced by changes in cloud cover, snow-albedo feedback, Asian brown clouds, and land use changes. The cryosphere is undergoing rapid changes, including glacier retreat, inconsistent snow cover, increased permafrost temperatures, and thickening of the active layer. Hydrological processes related to glacial retreat have been a focus of recent research. Future attention should be given to climate extremes, reanalysis reliability, and spatial comparisons. Spatial issues include elevation dependency and weekend effects. Data gaps above 5000 m asl limit understanding. The TP is experiencing significant climate change, with temperature extremes showing warming trends, precipitation showing less consistency, and permafrost degradation. The mechanisms of warming include anthropogenic greenhouse gases, cloud changes, snow/ice-albedo feedback, and land use changes. New perspectives include the 'weekend effect' and the role of anthropogenic aerosols. Reanalyses are important for climate variability but show discrepancies. The TP's climate is influenced by global models, and future studies need to address data quality and homogeneity. The TP's unique position and complex topography make it a critical area for climate research.