Brussels
The world experienced its third-warmest June ever in 2025, according to a report released by the EU-funded Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) on Wednesday.
June’s global average surface air temperature was 16.46 degrees Celsius, which is 0.47 degrees above the 1991-2020 average and 1.3 degrees higher than levels before industrialization (1850-1900). Only June 2023 and 2024 were hotter.
Europe saw an average temperature of 18.46 degrees Celsius, marking its fifth-warmest June. Western Europe recorded its hottest June ever at 20.49 degrees. Samantha Burgess from C3S warned that heatwaves are becoming more frequent and severe, posing health risks to millions.
Other regions, including the United States, northern Canada, central and eastern Asia, and West Antarctica, also saw above-average temperatures.
The global sea surface temperature (SST) averaged 20.72 degrees in June, the third highest for the month. A severe marine heatwave in the western Mediterranean pushed daily SSTs up to 27 degrees, the highest ever recorded there in June.
Julien Nicolas, a senior scientist at C3S, highlighted the risks of rising ocean temperatures. Oceans absorb about 90% of the extra heat from human-induced climate change, which threatens marine life and biodiversity.
Nicolas stressed the need for urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to prepare cities for more extreme weather.
"Reducing emissions and adapting to climate impacts is critical to protect our future," he said.
The report serves as another warning that urgent steps are needed worldwide to tackle the worsening climate crisis.
