According to calculations by the Copernicus Service for Climate Change (C3S), implemented by the European Center for Weather Forecasts, during the month of July global average sea surface temperatures were 0.51 degrees Celsius higher than the 1991-2020 average. Earth surface temperatures were 0.72 degrees Celsius above the 1991-2020 average for July and 0.33 degrees Celsius warmer than the previous hottest month, July 2019.

In a statement, Samantha Burges, deputy director of Copernicus reveals that "global atmospheric temperatures and global temperatures at the surface of the oceans set new records ever in July", and that the data collected by CS3 suggest, albeit prematurely, that “2023 is currently the third warmest year to date”.

According to the official, the announced information "shows the urgency of ambitious efforts to reduce global emissions of greenhouse gases, which are the main driver behind these records."

In the report the secretary general of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Petteri Taalas, warned that “the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is more urgent than ever. Climate action is not a luxury but an obligation,” he said.

Already looking at the whole year until July, Copernicus indicates that "the global average for 2023 is the third highest on record, with 0.43 degrees Celsius compared to 1991-2020", which compares with the surplus of 0.49 degrees Celsius recorded in 2016, and 0.48 degrees Celsius for 2020, details the person in charge.

The WMO sees a 98% probability that at least one of the next five years will be the hottest ever, and a 66% probability of temporarily exceeding 1.5°C above the 1850-1900 average during at least one of the next five years.