Global regions with 900 million residents hit record July heat

July 2026 was recorded as the hottest July on record for several global regions inhabited by approximately 900 million people, according to an analysis by AFP based on Copernicus climate data. The findings indicate that 33 countries broke their monthly temperature records for July. Notable temperature spikes were reported in Spain, France, and the United States.

In Africa, nearly 400 million people were affected, particularly in the Sahel belt. Ten countries in this region, including Mauritania, Niger, Burkina Faso, Sudan, Kenya, and Ethiopia, set new monthly heat records. In some areas like Chad and Sudan, temperatures exceeded the 1981-2010 reference period averages by more than 2°C.

In Central and northern South America, the El Niño phenomenon contributed to unprecedented temperatures affecting roughly 110 million people from Mexico to northern Brazil. Additionally, sea surface temperatures reached record levels in the Atlantic and western Mediterranean, while Western Europe experienced its warmest June-July period since records began. These trends are linked to the accumulation of greenhouse gases, increasing the frequency of heatwaves, droughts, and fire risks.