August 2025 was recorded as the third hottest month in Earth's history. According to a report from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), the temperature was 1.29 degrees Celsius higher compared to pre-industrial levels (1850-1900). This highlights the accelerating pace of climate change.
Record-Breaking August 2025 Temperatures
As per the report by C3S on September 9, 2025, the global surface average temperature for August 2025 was 16.6 degrees Celsius, which is 0.49 degrees above the 1991-2020 average. This makes it the third hottest August, closely following 2023 and 2024, with just 0.22 degrees shy.
The average temperature from September 2024 to August 2025 was 1.52 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial era, already exceeding the Paris Agreement's 1.5-degree threshold. This warming stems from greenhouse gases produced through human activities.
Source: aajtak
Samantha Burgess, head of C3S, emphasized the urgency of reducing emissions due to rising temperatures and disasters. The heat from June to August 2025 was the third highest recorded.
Devastating Heatwaves and Wildfires in Europe
Southwestern Europe endured severe heatwaves, igniting wildfires in Spain and Portugal with over 1100 deaths linked to 16 days of intense heat in Spain. Europe's average temperature stood at 19.46 degrees Celsius, which is 0.30 degrees above average.
Summer temperatures were 0.90 degrees higher than average, marking the fourth warmest. Western, southeastern Europe, and Turkey felt the brunt of the heat, while Northern Europe (Poland, Belarus, Baltic nations) remained relatively cooler.
Source: aajtak
Rising Sea Temperatures
Global sea surface temperature in August 2025 was 20.82 degrees Celsius, the third warmest on record. The North Atlantic (near France and the UK) experienced record heat. The northern Pacific also saw unusually high temperatures. The Mediterranean was not as extreme as last year. Ocean warming damages ecosystems and exacerbates extreme weather.
Extreme Weather Events Globally
Extreme weather wreaked havoc across the globe. Western and southern Europe faced drought, while Italy, eastern Spain, and Scandinavia experienced above-normal rainfall. Americas and Australia suffered droughts, while China, Japan, Pakistan, India, and Brazil saw heavy rains.
Source: aajtak
In India, floods and landslides resulted in loss of life and property. The UK, Japan, and South Korea recorded their hottest temperatures. Arctic ice diminished by 12% (eighth least on record), and Antarctica saw a 7% reduction (third least).
Warnings from Climate Change
The heat serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to cut emissions. C3S notes rising sea temperatures worsen extreme events' destructive impact. Scientists warn that without emission cuts, future years will only get hotter. Although the Paris Agreement aims for a 1.5-degree limit, we've already surpassed it.
