The world faced a harsh reminder of climate change in August, the third-hottest on record, as extreme heatwaves and devastating wildfires swept across multiple continents.

Southwest Europe endured a third consecutive summer heatwave, with Spain and Portugal ravaged by fires that forced thousands to evacuate and claimed more than 1,100 lives. 

Meanwhile, parts of Asia, including Siberia, China, Japan, and the Middle East, experienced dangerously high temperatures, affecting millions.

The oceans, which naturally help regulate the planet’s climate, reached near-record warmth, intensifying storms, droughts, and other disasters that threaten vulnerable communities. 

Experts warn that even small rises in global temperatures—1.29°C above pre-industrial levels this August—are already destabilizing lives and livelihoods worldwide.

Scientists emphasize the urgent need to reduce emissions and implement protective measures to safeguard communities, highlighting that human-driven climate change is amplifying the severity of these events.

Immediate action is needed to protect people, homes, and ecosystems from increasingly frequent and intense climate hazards.