August 2026 has been declared the world's joint hottest month on record, with global temperatures reaching 1.65°C above pre-industrial levels, according to scientists from the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S)1. This ties with July 2023 as the warmest calendar month ever recorded and marks the hottest August on record. Western Europe also experienced its warmest summer on record.
Understanding these record-breaking temperatures is crucial for grasping the pace of climate change and its potential impacts.
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The global temperature record tracks the Earth's average surface temperature over time, providing a critical indicator of climate change. This record is typically measured against a pre-industrial baseline, offering a clear picture of how much the planet has warmed due to human activities.
What is the global temperature record?
The global temperature record is a compilation of temperature data from various sources, including weather stations, ships, and satellites, collected over many decades and even centuries. Scientists use this data to calculate the Earth's average surface temperature, which helps in understanding long-term climate trends. The European Union's Copernicus Climate C3S is a leading authority in monitoring and reporting this data.
Why monitoring global temperatures matters
Monitoring global temperatures is crucial for understanding the pace and scale of climate change. It helps scientists and policymakers assess the effectiveness of climate policies, predict future climate impacts, and inform strategies for adaptation and mitigation. These records highlight the urgency of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to prevent more severe consequences.
The latest data from Copernicus paints a stark picture of the ongoing climate crisis, with August 2026 setting new, alarming benchmarks.
Joint hottest month on record: August 2026 and July 2023
August 2026 now shares the title of the hottest month ever recorded globally, matching the extreme temperatures seen in July 2023. This consistent pattern of record-breaking heat underscores a worrying trend in global warming.
Temperatures 1.65°C above pre-industrial levels
Global temperatures in August 2026 reached an alarming 1.65°C above pre-industrial levels. This figure is particularly significant as it marks the first time since November 2025 that global temperatures have breached the 1.5°C threshold above pre-industrial averages. While this is a monthly peak rather than a long-term average, it signals how close the world is to breaching critical climate goals set out in the 2015 Paris Agreement.
What does 'pre-industrial levels' mean?
'Pre-industrial levels' refers to the average global temperature during the period before large-scale industrialisation, typically defined as 1850-1900. This baseline is used by climate scientists to measure the extent of global warming caused by human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels, which began to accelerate significantly during the industrial era.
Record heat in western Europe and sea surface temperatures
Western Europe experienced its warmest summer on record in 2026, surpassing the previous record set in 2003. This extreme heat contributed to severe drought conditions across the region. Concurrently, sea surface temperatures also hit record highs, reaching 21.07°C in extra-polar oceans in August. These elevated ocean temperatures are a critical indicator, as warmer seas contribute to more extreme weather events and impact marine ecosystems.
The scientific consensus points to a combination of human-induced factors and natural phenomena driving these unprecedented temperature increases.
The role of fossil fuel emissions and greenhouse gases
The relentless burning of fossil fuels - coal, oil, and gas - is the primary long-term driver of rising global temperatures. This activity releases vast amounts of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere, trapping heat and leading to global warming. Prof Friederike Otto, a professor of climate science at Imperial College London, emphasised this point:
"While El Niño is starting to ramp up the heat, the underlying driver remains our relentless burning of fossil fuels. Climate change makes every El Niño hotter, and until we stop burning coal, oil and gas, these record-shattering months will simply keep on coming."
— Prof Friederike Otto, Imperial College London
El Niño phenomenon: natural variability and human impact
The strong El Niño phenomenon is also playing a significant role in exacerbating global warming trends. El Niño is a natural climate pattern characterised by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, which influences weather patterns worldwide. While a natural occurrence, climate change is intensifying its effects, leading to more extreme heat events globally.
The science of climate change
Climate science clearly demonstrates the link between increased greenhouse gas concentrations and rising global temperatures. Data from organisations like Copernicus Climate C3S provide robust evidence of these changes, allowing scientists to attribute extreme weather events more accurately to climate change. The scientific community consistently warns that without drastic reductions in emissions, such records will continue to be broken.
The consequences of these rising temperatures are already being felt across the UK and wider Europe, manifesting in various environmental challenges.
Drought conditions and low river flows in Europe
The extreme heat experienced since May 2026 has led to severe drought conditions in several European countries, including the UK, France, Hungary, Romania, and Serbia. This has resulted in exceptionally low river flows in major waterways such as the Rhine, Danube, and Dnieper. These low water levels impact agriculture, navigation, energy production, and aquatic ecosystems.
Extreme weather events and their consequences
Record-breaking temperatures contribute to an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. This includes more severe heatwaves, prolonged droughts, and widespread drought and wildfire activity across several regions of the continent. These events have devastating consequences for communities, economies, and ecosystems, leading to crop failures, water shortages, and disruptions to daily life.
UK climate change impacts and future outlook
The UK is experiencing its own significant climate change impacts, including more frequent heatwaves and severe drought conditions. These changes pose challenges to infrastructure, agriculture, and public health, highlighting the need for robust adaptation strategies and continued efforts to reduce emissions.
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References
- Radio News Hub. August was world's joint hottest month on record - scientists
