WMO: The beginning of July was the hottest week on record

The beginning of July was the hottest week on record for the planet, according to the World Meteorological Organization.

This came after climate change and the early stages of the El Niño weather pattern drove the warmest June on record. It is the latest in a string of records that have been set midway through a year that has already seen intense heat waves in China and the United States in addition to a drought in Spain. According to the World weather agency, temperatures are shattering records both on land and in the waters, which could have disastrous effects on ecosystems and the environment.