Key facts
- Global average sea surface temperature for July was the highest on record, exceeding the previous July record from 2023.
- Western Europe recorded its hottest June-July period, with exceptional heat driving wildfires.
- Persistent heatwaves and drought have caused low river flows, impacting water supply and forcing power plant shutdowns.
- Economic losses from heat and drought are significant, with early estimates for June crop losses at €2bn for grain farmers.
- The EU has seen approximately half a million hectares burn this year, exacerbated by climate change creating conditions for mega-wildfires.
The world's oceans recorded their hottest July on record, scientists reported, coinciding with devastating heatwaves across western Europe. The EU's Copernicus climate change service confirmed record sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic and western Mediterranean, contributing to severe marine heatwaves.
Globally, the average sea surface temperature outside polar regions surpassed previous July records, with July 2026 being marginally cooler than July 2024. Western Europe experienced its hottest June-July period on record, with exceptional heat fueling wildfires across the Mediterranean. Data indicates the first two summer months were significantly hotter than average, reflecting a persistent heatwave.
Central Europe is also grappling with extreme temperatures, leading to dried vegetation and increased wildfire risk. Samantha Burgess, a climate scientist, described the summer as a clear example of climate breakdown intensifying interconnected extreme weather events. Persistent high-pressure systems trapped heat, and drying soils exacerbated the heat buildup.
Fossil fuel pollution has amplified a series of heatwaves in Europe since spring, with a brutal heatwave at the end of June potentially causing over 10,000 deaths. Widespread dryness observed in May and June intensified in July, with exceptionally low rainfall and soil moisture in western Europe. This led to low river flows, impacting water supply, irrigation, and power generation, forcing the shutdown of two coal-fired power plants in Poland and Hungary's sole nuclear power plant.
Heat and drought pose significant environmental and economic threats to Europe. Early estimates suggest June's heat cost grain farmers €2bn in lost crops. Economists warn that persistent droughts can cause long-term damage, with a previous mega-drought from 2015-18 costing Europe €439bn. Researchers highlight that conventional methods often underestimate drought-related economic losses by failing to account for compounding and long-lasting impacts.
Across the EU, approximately half a million hectares have burned this year, accompanied by above-average pollution from wildfires. Hot, dry, and windy conditions are making firefighting more challenging. Professor Víctor Resco de Dios noted that climate change is creating favorable conditions for mega-wildfires, but emphasized that vegetation management and urban planning can mitigate the problem, though adaptive measures are crucial for the future.