Global Temperature Record Shattered, Exceeding Paris Agreement Limit

September 11, 2026 · CNN International

Data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service reveals the hottest August on record since 1940, pushing the critical 1.5-degree Celsius climate threshold.

Hottest August on Record

According to data released by the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service, the Earth experienced its hottest August since at least 1940, the earliest year for which records are available. The global average temperature in August was measured at 16.96 degrees Celsius (62.53 degrees Fahrenheit). This value is a full 0.85 degrees Celsius above the long-term average between 1991 and 2020, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service data. The meteorological summer, encompassing June, July, and August, also registered as the hottest season globally.

El Niño Reshaping Global Weather

Experts attribute the broken temperature records to the combined effect of human-induced global warming and the increasingly powerful El Niño weather phenomenon in the tropical Pacific. According to Copernicus Climate Change Service records, the pronounced El Niño period of 2023 and 2024 led to 13 consecutive months of record-breaking temperatures. Rising sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific are fundamentally altering atmospheric circulation worldwide and global rainfall patterns, which are vital for agricultural production.

Extreme Heat in Europe and the Americas

Western Europe experienced its hottest summer to date, surpassing previous records, according to Copernicus data. Forest fires were observed even in unusual geographies like the UK, while severe heatwaves affected the continent. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that the US also had its hottest summer, surpassing the historic 'Dust Bowl' drought period of 1936 and 2021. Heat domes, particularly in the southwestern states, have put agricultural lands under pressure.

Rare Summer Surpassing July's Heat

Samantha Burgess, Head of Climate Strategy at the Copernicus Climate Change Service, highlighted the unusual nature of August's temperatures exceeding those of July. Globally, the hottest time of the year typically occurs in July. Burgess noted that August has only surpassed the July average four times since 1940, with the last occurrence in 1985. She indicated that given the current strength of El Niño, a similar or longer record-breaking streak could begin.

Paris Climate Target Boundary Crossed

The global average surface air temperature rose to 1.65 degrees Celsius (2.97 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, crossing the critical 1.5-degree threshold set by the Paris Agreement for the first time since November of last year. Samantha Burgess, Head of Climate Strategy at the Copernicus Climate Change Service, commented:

'We are at a real turning point for society. We have seen devastating climate events worldwide, and I think this summer we have witnessed the impacts directly affecting people everywhere.'

It was emphasized that Europe has not yet fully adapted to the current climate conditions.

Critical Warnings for the Future

A report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) noted that without sharp reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, temperature increases are likely to exceed targets in the long term. Samantha Burgess, Head of Climate Strategy at the Copernicus Climate Change Service, stated in her assessment:

'One of the most important lessons to be learned is that the warmer our background climate becomes, the more intense, more frequent, and longer-lasting extreme weather events will be.'

As the temperature increase surpasses the 1.5-degree limit, the risks of drought and impacts on water resources are escalating exponentially.

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