Western Europe Experiences Its Warmest June Ever Recorded

Western Europe experiences its warmest June ever recorded

Western Europe just recorded its hottest June ever, EU scientists confirmed this week. According to Copernicus, the region’s average temperature hit 20.74°C, 3.06°C above the 1991–2020 average, surpassing the previous record set in June 2025. Globally, it was the second-warmest June on record, and sea surface temperatures reached their highest levels ever recorded for the month.

Western Europe has now been hit by three major heatwaves in as many months, with Spain and Portugal facing another this week. The heat also worsened drought risk in eastern Europe and fuelled wildfire activity across the Iberian Peninsula and southern France. Copernicus’s Samantha Burgess said the pattern reflects a climate dynamic that’s accumulating heat, fuelling more intense heatwaves and growing risks for people and infrastructure across Europe.

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Further reading: Western Europe records hottest June on record, EU scientists say

Temasek’s green portfolio grows 7% to S$49bn

Singapore’s Temasek said on Wednesday its sustainable living portfolio rose about 7% to S$49 billion ($38 billion) for the year ended March 31, 2026, as it deployed S$5 billion into renewable energy, power grids and other businesses tied to the energy transition. The increase came despite divestments including O2 Power, with recent investments spanning India’s CleanMax, solar platform Luminace, grid tech firm Amperesand, and US-based Commonwealth Fusion Systems.

Temasek said its climate transition would remain “uneven, contested, and non-linear,” citing market volatility, higher financing costs and its exposure to hard-to-abate sectors like steel, aviation and shipping. It’s now reviewing its 2030 emissions target after acknowledging it’s unlikely to hit it, while reaffirming its 2050 net-zero commitment.

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Further reading: Singapore’s Temasek green portfolio rises 7%, sees uneven climate path

Pertamina & Boeing sign MoU on sustainable aviation fuel

Indonesia’s Pertamina signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Boeing on Wednesday to explore developing a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) industry in the country, as it works to identify feedstock sources, develop SAF technologies, and support related policy. The agreement is aimed at helping decarbonise Indonesia’s aviation sector and further its move toward net-zero emissions.

Boeing said Southeast Asia’s passenger traffic is expected to grow about 7% annually through 2044, driving demand for nearly 4,900 new aircraft. Pertamina has already been scaling its SAF capabilities, including through its Cilacap Biorefinery, which produces fuel from used cooking oil and other waste-based feedstocks.

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Further reading: Indonesia’s Pertamina, Boeing sign MoU on sustainable aviation fuel development

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EU allows waste exports to Switzerland to resume

The EU has amended its Waste Shipment Regulation to allow continued exports of mixed municipal waste to Switzerland for recovery, including recycling and energy use. The change reverses a ban on such exports to non-EEA countries that had been in effect since May 21, 2026, and will come into effect on July 30.

The amendment is meant to preserve established waste management arrangements between the EU and Switzerland, particularly in border regions of Austria, France, Germany and Italy, which send around 200,000 tonnes of mixed municipal waste to Switzerland annually. The Commission said it supports the bloc’s simplification agenda and circular economy goals, while stricter rules remain in place for waste exported for landfilling or incineration.

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Further reading: EU clarifies rules to allow continued waste recovery shipments to Switzerland

Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of impakter.com —  In the Cover Photo:  Partial Map of Europe. Cover Photo Credit: Lara Jameson