August was hottest month ever recorded globally, scientists say

August was the hottest month ever recorded globally, according to the EU's climate monitor, the Copernicus Climate Change Service. This assessment, released on Thursday, also indicated unprecedented highs in ocean temperatures and marked western Europe's warmest summer. In response to these findings, the UN issued a warning that continued reliance on fossil fuels will lead the planet into increasingly unknown climate conditions. While Copernicus data extends back to 1940, scientists can use other evidence like ice cores and tree rings to provide a longer historical context for current climate trends.