The 2024 European Climate Report confirms the pace of accelerated climate change in Europe. It is currently the fastest continent on the planet.
Climate change in Europe reached a tough milestone in 2024 as the continent recorded its hottest year to date.
Almost half of Europe experienced record yearly temperatures, according to the European Climate 2024 (ESOTC) report released today by the Copernicus Climate Change Services (C3S) and the World Weather Organization (WMO).
From catastrophic floods in the western region to long-term heat waves in the eastern region, Europe faced an onslaught of extreme weather events throughout the year.
Compiled by around 100 scientists, ESOTC 2024 paints a harsh picture of the continent amidst the pain of climate change.
Carlo Buontempo, director of Copernicus Climate Change Services at ECMWF, commented:
“But 2024 was also a year of significant climate contrast between Eastern and Western Europe. European climate conditions are a treasure trove of quality information about climate change. Learning how to use climate data and information to inform decisions will become a priority for all of us.”
Extreme Weather: East-West Disparity defines 2024
One of the most striking patterns of 2024 was a contrast to the East-West climate throughout Europe. The eastern region withstanded dry, clear and very warm conditions, while the west dealt with excessive rainfall and cool, cloudy skies. This disparity was evident across multiple climate indicators, from soil moisture to solar radiation.
Precipitation imbalances have contributed to widespread flooding, particularly in Central and Western Europe. In particular, 30% of the European River Network exceeds the “high” flood threshold and 12% exceeds the “severe” level, making it the most widespread flood event since 2013.
Storms, floods, deaths
Human costs in 2024 were calm. At least 335 people lost their lives, and more than 413,000 people were affected by storms and floods.
Stormboris, which struck Central and Eastern Europe in September, left a trajectory of destruction in Germany, Poland, Austria, Hungary, and several other countries. In late October, Valencia, Spain, suffered catastrophic flooding after extreme rainfall.
These events reflect the increasing vulnerability of European infrastructure to climate impacts. The report highlights the increased risks to housing, transportation networks and energy systems. This is an area that requires urgent adaptation and resilience strategies.
Records the rise in heat and heat stress
Heat waves have intensified throughout the continent as southeastern Europe is experiencing the longest heat wave on record. For the 13th of July in a row.
The region saw record days of strong thermal stress (66) and 23 tropical nights.
In Europe, 60% of land experience more than average heat stress days, contributing to health risks, particularly among vulnerable populations.
Nighttime temperatures have raised concerns as they limit the body’s ability to recover from daytime heat and exacerbate its impact on human health.
Reducing the glacier and rising ocean
The retreat of European glaciers accelerated dramatically in 2024. All monitored areas report ice losses, Scandinavia and Svalbad experience the most glacial mass losses on record, with a thickness of up to 2.7 meters.
This surprising trend coincides with the UN’s 2025 declaration as a preservation year for international glaciers, bringing attention to the urgent need to protect these important ecosystems.
Meanwhile, sea surface temperatures (SST) in the European region have reached record highs, with Mediterranean seas above average 1.2°C.
Renewables break records, but challenges remain
Amidst the climate turmoil, 2024 has brought promising advances in renewable energy. Europe generates 45% of its electricity from renewable energy, with the highest percentage on record.
The number of EU countries where renewable energy is now outweighing fossil fuels has almost doubled since 2019, rising from 12 to 20.
However, the report points out that renewable output is closely related to climate change. While Sunnier East offered a higher solar potential, Cloudier West raised the challenge and highlighted the need for a flexible, resilient energy grid that can withstand climate change.
Policy Actions and Adaptation
Despite its data concerns, ESOTC 2024 emphasizes promoting climate policy trends. Today, over 51% of European cities are focused on climate adaptation planning, starting from just 26% in 2018.
These initiatives help us better prepare for extreme weather preparations in the future, from flood protection to green urban cooling strategies.
A new interactive map in the report presents examples of successful adaptations across Europe.
Glimpse into the future
For the first time, ESOTC includes a spotlight section that integrates the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) survey.
One disastrous forecast warns that global warming of just 1.5°C could lead to 30,000 heat-related deaths annually in Europe. Furthermore, Europe is predicted to experience one of the sharp increases in flood risk around the world.
These forward-looking insights serve as both a warning and a call to action. The message is clear. Climate change in Europe is not a distant threat. It is the present and saves the crisis.
WMO Executive Director Celeste Sauro added: “The report highlights that Europe is the fastest continent and is experiencing serious consequences from extreme weather and climate change.
“A small portion of the temperature rise is important as it highlights the risks to our lives, our economy and our planets. Adaptation is essential.
“Therefore, WMO and its partners are stepping up efforts to strengthen early warning systems and climate services to make decision makers and society as a whole more resilient. We are making progress, but we need to go faster and we need to go together.”
The urgent need for collective climate action
ESOTC 2024 provides a terrible assessment of European climate change, characterized by unprecedented temperatures, deadly floods and rapidly changing ecosystems.
As Europe continues to warm faster and warmer than any other continent, the need for rapid, unified action across governments, industries and communities has become more important than ever.
Policy goals aren’t just about investing in adaptation, expanding renewable energy, and reducing emissions. They are existential obligations for Europe and the future of generations to come.
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