August 2026 ties as the hottest month ever recorded
New EU satellite data shows last month tied July 2023 as the warmest on record, as the UN's climate chief warned the crisis is now an economic emergency.
The EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service confirmed this week that August 2026 was the joint-hottest month ever measured worldwide, with global temperatures reaching 1.65°C above pre-industrial levels — tying the record set in July 2023. Sea surface temperatures also hit an all-time high for the month, and western Europe recorded its warmest summer on record.
Speaking to the European Parliament as the data was released, UN climate chief Simon Stiell said the summer's heat had already cost the continent an estimated €180 billion, closing power stations, disrupting trade routes and pushing up food prices. He urged governments to reject "climate culture war" politics, warning that continued fossil fuel use would turn this year's extremes into a "permanent climate nightmare."
Scientists cautioned that an incoming El Niño — expected to peak later this year and potentially be the strongest on record — will likely push temperatures even higher, since a warmer baseline climate now intensifies every El Niño cycle.
Reporting by Fiona Harvey, Environment editor, for The Guardian. Original: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/sep/10/august-joint-hottest-month-recorded-globally
This article was produced with the assistance of AI tools and reviewed by an editor before publication.
