August 2026 set a new global temperature record, according to data released Thursday by the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. The average global surface air temperature reached 16.96 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous high of approximately 16.95 degrees recorded in July 2023.

This temperature represents an increase of 0.85 degrees Celsius compared to the 1991-2020 average for August, and is 1.65 degrees above the estimated pre-industrial baseline of 1850 to 1900. Notably, August 2026 was the first month since November 2025 in which the global monthly average temperature exceeded the critical threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels—a marker often cited in international climate agreements.

The period also coincided with Western Europe experiencing its warmest summer on record. The sustained rise in global temperatures highlights ongoing concerns related to climate change, with implications for weather patterns, ecosystems, and human activity worldwide.

The record-setting data underscores growing evidence of the accelerating pace of global warming, as nations continue to grapple with measures aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate impacts.