August 2026 was the hottest month ever recorded in the world

The European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that August 2026 was the hottest month ever recorded globally, tied with July 2023. The average temperature was 1.65 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Sea surface temperatures were the highest ever recorded. The heatwave occurred even before El Niño reached its full strength, expected towards the end of the year.

The European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service reported on Thursday that August 2026 was the hottest month ever recorded worldwide, tied with July 2023. The global average temperature was 1.65 degrees Celsius higher than pre-industrial levels. Sea surface temperatures were the highest ever recorded. The historic heatwave occurred even before the El Niño weather system had a significant impact. The current El Niño is expected to reach its full strength towards the end of the year and is estimated to be the most powerful ever recorded. Friederike Otto, a professor of climate science at Imperial College London, said the main cause of the high temperatures is the continued burning of fossil fuels. According to her, "Until we stop burning coal, oil and gas, the record-breaking months will simply keep happening." Simon Stiell, the UN's head of climate, said extreme heat "kills millions and costs trillions," damaging transport and health systems and raising food prices. The consequences include devastating fires, excess deaths, heatwaves, and transport disruptions. August temperatures exceeded the 1.5-degree threshold above pre-industrial levels set in the Paris Agreement. The UN recognized this month that the threshold was breached, but to determine that the agreement has been violated, continuity of such heat levels over several years is required.