Europe, the continent warming the quickest, experiences its warmest year in 2024
Europe recorded its hottest year ever in 2024, characterized by devastating floods, extended heatwaves, and unprecedented climate extremes, as outlined in a recent report by the World Meteorological Organization and the Copernicus Climate Change...
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Europe recorded its hottest year ever in 2024, characterized by devastating floods, extended heatwaves, and unprecedented climate extremes, as outlined in a recent report by the World Meteorological Organization and the Copernicus Climate Change Service.
The report, titled "European State of the Climate 2024," emphasizes that Europe continues to be the fastest-warming continent, facing "serious impacts from extreme weather and climate change."
The toll of extreme weather events has been substantial. The past year witnessed the most extensive flooding in Europe since 2013, with nearly one-third of the river network exceeding the "high" flood threshold and 12 percent surpassing the "severe" flood threshold. Tragically, at least 335 lives were lost, and 413,000 individuals were affected by storms and floods.
Heat-related stress levels also intensified. Europe marked its second-highest incidence of days with "strong," "very strong," and "extreme" heat stress, with almost 60 percent of the continent experiencing above-average days of "strong heat stress."
Southeastern Europe suffered its longest recorded heatwave in July, lasting 13 consecutive days and impacting 55 percent of the region. This summer saw unprecedented numbers of days classified as experiencing "strong heat stress" and tropical nights in southeastern Europe.
Throughout the year, sea surface temperatures in both the European region and the Mediterranean reached their highest recorded levels, at 0.7 degrees Celsius and 1.2 degrees Celsius above average, respectively.
These climate extremes resulted in record glacier losses throughout all European regions. Glaciers in Scandinavia and Svalbard, an archipelago between Norway and the North Pole, experienced their highest rates of mass loss on record, averaging a reduction in thickness of 1.8 meters in Scandinavia and 2.7 meters in Svalbard.
In September, wildfires in Portugal consumed approximately 1,100 square kilometers in just one week, around a quarter of Europe's total annual burned area. An estimated 42,000 people were affected by wildfires across the continent.
"These extreme events led to an estimated 18 billion euros of damages, 85 percent of which is attributed to flooding," stated Samantha Burgess, deputy director of C3S, during a press conference discussing the report's highlights.
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo stressed the necessity for climate action: "Every additional fraction of a degree of temperature rise matters because it accentuates the risks to our lives, to economies and to the planet. Adaptation is a must."
Amid these challenges, the report presents a positive note. The share of electricity generated from renewable sources in Europe reached a record high of 45 percent in 2024.
The annual "European State of the Climate" report provides a thorough evaluation of climate trends and impacts across the continent. This edition marks the eighth in the series and the second published in collaboration with Copernicus, the European Union's Earth observation program.
Allen M Lee contributed to this article for TROIB News
The report, titled "European State of the Climate 2024," emphasizes that Europe continues to be the fastest-warming continent, facing "serious impacts from extreme weather and climate change."
The toll of extreme weather events has been substantial. The past year witnessed the most extensive flooding in Europe since 2013, with nearly one-third of the river network exceeding the "high" flood threshold and 12 percent surpassing the "severe" flood threshold. Tragically, at least 335 lives were lost, and 413,000 individuals were affected by storms and floods.
Heat-related stress levels also intensified. Europe marked its second-highest incidence of days with "strong," "very strong," and "extreme" heat stress, with almost 60 percent of the continent experiencing above-average days of "strong heat stress."
Southeastern Europe suffered its longest recorded heatwave in July, lasting 13 consecutive days and impacting 55 percent of the region. This summer saw unprecedented numbers of days classified as experiencing "strong heat stress" and tropical nights in southeastern Europe.
Throughout the year, sea surface temperatures in both the European region and the Mediterranean reached their highest recorded levels, at 0.7 degrees Celsius and 1.2 degrees Celsius above average, respectively.
These climate extremes resulted in record glacier losses throughout all European regions. Glaciers in Scandinavia and Svalbard, an archipelago between Norway and the North Pole, experienced their highest rates of mass loss on record, averaging a reduction in thickness of 1.8 meters in Scandinavia and 2.7 meters in Svalbard.
In September, wildfires in Portugal consumed approximately 1,100 square kilometers in just one week, around a quarter of Europe's total annual burned area. An estimated 42,000 people were affected by wildfires across the continent.
"These extreme events led to an estimated 18 billion euros of damages, 85 percent of which is attributed to flooding," stated Samantha Burgess, deputy director of C3S, during a press conference discussing the report's highlights.
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo stressed the necessity for climate action: "Every additional fraction of a degree of temperature rise matters because it accentuates the risks to our lives, to economies and to the planet. Adaptation is a must."
Amid these challenges, the report presents a positive note. The share of electricity generated from renewable sources in Europe reached a record high of 45 percent in 2024.
The annual "European State of the Climate" report provides a thorough evaluation of climate trends and impacts across the continent. This edition marks the eighth in the series and the second published in collaboration with Copernicus, the European Union's Earth observation program.
Allen M Lee contributed to this article for TROIB News
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