Earth experienced its third-warmest July on record, with significant contributions from extreme weather conditions, including a historic national temperature of 50.5°C recorded in Turkey. This finding comes from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), which reports that the average global surface air temperature for July reached 16.68°C, exceeding the 1991-2020 average by 0.45°C.
The trend of rising temperatures continues to raise concerns among scientists, particularly regarding the long-term implications of climate change. According to Carlo Buontempo, director of C3S, “Two years after the hottest July on record, the recent streak of global temperature records is over – for now. But this doesn’t mean climate change has stopped.” He emphasized that the world is still witnessing severe effects, including extreme heat and catastrophic flooding.
Although July 2025 was not as hot as the record-setting July 2023 or the second-warmest July 2024, it still marked an increase of 1.25°C compared to pre-industrial levels from 1850-1900. Furthermore, the period from August 2024 to July 2025 recorded temperatures that were 1.53°C above pre-industrial levels, surpassing the critical 1.5°C threshold established by the Paris Agreement.
The primary driver of climate change remains the emissions of greenhouse gases from fossil fuel combustion. Although the year 2024 has been recognized as the hottest year on record, the global community has yet to officially exceed the 1.5°C target. Some scientists, however, argue that maintaining this limit may no longer be feasible. They advocate for immediate actions, urging governments to accelerate reductions in CO2 emissions to mitigate the escalation of extreme weather events.
The C3S has maintained temperature records since 1940, cross-referencing them with global data that dates back to 1850. The urgency of addressing climate change is underscored by the current temperature statistics, which demonstrate the pressing need for global cooperation in reducing emissions and curbing climate-related disasters.
