global
August 2026 Tiers as Earth's Joint-Hottest Month on Record
Just the facts
Climate scientists attributed the record temperatures primarily to ongoing human-caused climate change alongside a strengthening El Niño pattern. Surface air and ocean temperatures remained at historical highs across multiple regions throughout the month. Researchers emphasized that global heat records continue to be matched or broken as atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations increase.
Why this is news
Data published by the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service established that August 2026 tied for the warmest month ever recorded globally.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.