Climatologist at Imperial College London, researching climate change impacts
More than 300,000 people have been evacuated from France and Spain as intense wildfires have burned record areas and authorities warn of another heatwave. France has seen its worst fires in two decades; Spain has reported its largest blazes near Madrid. UK services have also faced a surge of fires and an amber heat-health alert.
Copernicus confirms August 2026 tied for hottest month on record, with Western Europe enjoying its warmest summer. Global oceans reach new highs as El Niño intensifies. Scientists warn that emissions continue to drive extreme conditions and urge rapid action.
Disaster-hit Nepal faces mounting rebuilding costs after a glacier collapse triggered devastating floods. Scientists link warming to destabilisation of glaciers, while international finance bodies struggle to mobilise funds. Nepal urges faster climate finance to support relief, reconstruction and loss-and-damage claims.
The Langtang Lirung glacier has collapsed, unleashing floods that have killed and displaced thousands along the Nepal‑Tibet border. A World Weather Attribution study finds climate change is a destabilising factor, with warming, glacier thinning and permafrost thaw preconditioning the slope, while a historic 2015 earthquake may have weakened the rock. July–August 2026 were the warmest on record in the region, intensifying meltwater and stress on mountain walls.
The El Niño weather pattern has intensified, with multiple reports showing record sea-surface temperatures and forecasts of extreme heat. Scientists warn that global impacts will intensify through 2027, affecting temperatures, rainfall, and wildfire risk across regions from the Pacific to Africa and the Americas.
Projections show 451,000 additional heat-related deaths globally between June and February 2027, with Nigeria, Sudan, Niger and Chad bearing the heaviest impact. The Climate Impact Lab says emergency actions now can save tens of thousands of lives as El Niño intensifies.
The EU Copernicus service has updated that Western Europe endured its third-hottest summer on record, driven by a strong El Niño and rising fossil-fuel emissions. Heatwaves have raised mortality, stressed water systems, and intensified drought, with record sea temperatures and wildfire activity compounding impacts.