July 2019 was confirmed as the hottest month ever recorded, slightly topping or equal to global temperatures in July 2016, according to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S).

The big picture: Regions around the world have seen unrelenting, record-breaking temperatures this summer, causing dangerous conditions and deaths throughout. Studies have shown that the increase in the frequency of heat waves and the rise in global temperatures is symptomatic of human-caused climate change.

According to the report, July was around 0.56°C higher in temperature than the global average between 1981–2010, and close to 1.2°C above preindustrial levels. A landmark UN report released last year warned that global temperatures will only be held to 1.5°C above preindustrial levels — which could help to stave off some effects of global warming — only with "unprecedented" action around the world.

Of note: The C3S report further noted that "every month in 2019 has ranked among the four warmest for the month in question, and June was the warmest June ever recorded."

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