New data from the Copernicus climate service shows that the world’s oceans have reached their highest recorded surface temperatures, with average temperatures outside the polar regions reaching 21.1°C.

Scientists say the current El Niño weather pattern is contributing additional heat, but the record sits within a much longer-term trend driven by human-caused climate change. Oceans absorb more than 90% of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gas emissions, making rising sea temperatures a key indicator of a changing climate.

Warmer oceans can have wide-ranging impacts, including increasing the intensity of some extreme weather events, contributing to sea level rise and placing greater pressure on marine ecosystems.

The findings are another reminder of the scale of climate change and the importance of reducing emissions across industries and communities.

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