Firefighters are battling two out-of-control wildfires near Boston Bar, British Columbia, as Western Europe records its hottest June on record, according to climate news for the week of July 6 to July 12, 2026.
Wildfires Near Boston Bar
Two out-of-control wildfires are burning near the community of Boston Bar in B.C.'s Fraser Canyon. Fire crews are working to contain the blazes amid hot and dry conditions. No evacuation orders have been issued as of the latest update.
First Nation Challenges Port Dredge Plan
A First Nation is challenging a port authority's plan to dredge Metro Vancouver's Second Narrows to accommodate oil tankers. The Nation argues the project threatens marine ecosystems and traditional territories. The port authority says the dredging is necessary for safe navigation.
Western Europe's Hottest June on Record
Western Europe experienced its hottest June on record in 2026, according to climate data. The heat wave pushed the U.K. power grid to record operating strain, with demand soaring as residents used air conditioning and fans.
Global Climate Context
Human activities, including burning fossil fuels and farming livestock, are the main drivers of climate change, according to the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. These activities increase heat-trapping greenhouse gas levels, raising the planet's surface and ocean temperature.
As of July 5, 2026, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was 431.44 parts per million, down slightly from 432.34 ppm the previous month, according to NOAA data from the Mauna Loa Observatory. The NOAA notes a steady rise in CO2 from under 320 ppm in 1960.
Quick Facts
- The global average temperature in 2023 reached 1.48°C higher than the pre-industrial average; in 2024, it breached 1.5°C at 1.55°C.
- 2025 was the third warmest on record, capping the 11th consecutive warmest years.
- Human activities have raised atmospheric CO2 by nearly 49% above pre-industrial levels.
- The world is not on track to meet the Paris Agreement target of limiting warming to 1.5°C.
- UNEP's 2025 Emissions Gap Report shows global temperatures could rise by 2.3°C to 2.5°C this century even if emissions targets are met.
