The 2024 European State of the Climate report confirms the accelerating pace of climate change in Europe – now the fastest-warming continent on Earth.
European climate change reached a grim milestone in 2024, as the continent recorded its hottest year to date.
According to the European State of the Climate 2024 (ESOTC) report, released today by the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), nearly half of Europe experienced record-breaking annual temperatures.
From devastating floods in western regions to prolonged, scorching heatwaves in the East, Europe faced an onslaught of extreme weather events throughout the year.
The ESOTC 2024, compiled by around 100 scientists, paints a stark picture of a continent in the throes of climate upheaval.
Carlo Buontempo, Director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service at ECMWF, commented: “2024 was the warmest year on record for Europe. We observed the longest heatwave in southeastern Europe and record glacier mass loss in Scandinavia and Svalbard.
“But 2024 was also a year of marked climate contrasts between eastern and western Europe. The European State of the Climate is a treasure trove of quality information about our changing climate. Learning how to use climate data and information to inform our decisions should become a priority for all of us.”
Extreme weather: East-West divide defines 2024
One of the most striking patterns in 2024 was the East-West climate contrast across Europe. Eastern regions endured dry, sunny, and exceptionally warm conditions, while the West grappled with excessive rainfall and cooler, cloudier skies. This disparity was evident across multiple climate indicators, from soil moisture to solar radiation.
The precipitation imbalance contributed to widespread flooding, particularly in central and western Europe. Notably, 30% of Europe’s river network surpassed the “high” flood threshold, while 12% exceeded “severe” levels, making it the most extensive flooding event since 2013.
Storms, floods, and fatalities
The human cost of extreme weather in 2024 was sobering. At least 335 people lost their lives, and more than 413,000 were affected by storms and floods.
Storm Boris, which hit central and eastern Europe in September, left a trail of destruction across Germany, Poland, Austria, Hungary, and several other nations. In late October, Valencia, Spain, suffered devastating floods following extreme rainfall.
These events reflect the growing vulnerability of Europe’s infrastructure to climate impacts. The report highlights increasing risks to housing, transportation networks, and energy systems — areas that require urgent adaptation and resilience strategies.
Record heat and rising heat stress
Heatwaves intensified across the continent, with southeastern Europe experiencing the longest heatwave on record — 13 consecutive days in July.
This region also saw record numbers of days with strong heat stress (66) and 23 tropical nights, where temperatures never dipped below 20°C.
Across Europe, 60% of the landmass experienced more heat stress days than average, contributing to health risks, especially among vulnerable populations.
Night time temperatures remain a growing concern, as they limit the body’s ability to recover from daytime heat, exacerbating the impact on human health.
Shrinking glaciers and rising seas
The retreat of Europe’s glaciers accelerated dramatically in 2024. All monitored regions reported ice loss, with Scandinavia and Svalbard experiencing the highest glacier mass loss on record — up to 2.7 metres in thickness.
This alarming trend aligns with the declaration of 2025 as the UN’s International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, drawing attention to the urgent need to protect these vital ecosystems.
Meanwhile, sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the European region reached record highs, with the Mediterranean Sea measuring 1.2°C above average.
Renewable energy breaks records, yet challenges remain
Amid the climate turmoil, 2024 brought promising progress in renewable energy. Europe generated 45% of its electricity from renewables, the highest proportion on record.
The number of EU countries where renewables now outpace fossil fuels has nearly doubled since 2019, rising from 12 to 20.
However, the report notes that renewable output is closely linked to climate variability. The sunnier East offered higher solar potential, while the cloudier West posed challenges, underscoring the need for a flexible, resilient energy grid that can withstand climatic fluctuations.
Policy action and adaptation
Despite concerning data, the ESOTC 2024 highlights encouraging trends in climate policy. Over 51% of European cities now have dedicated climate adaptation plans, up from just 26% in 2018.
These initiatives are helping communities better prepare for future weather extremes, from flood defences to green urban cooling strategies.
A new interactive map within the report showcases successful adaptation examples across Europe — offering a glimmer of hope and a roadmap for other cities to follow.
A glimpse into the future
For the first time, the ESOTC includes spotlight sections integrating findings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
One harrowing projection warns that with just 1.5°C of global warming, Europe could face 30,000 heat-related deaths annually. Additionally, Europe is projected to experience one of the steepest increases in flood risk worldwide.
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 a present and escalating crisis.
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo added: “This report highlights that Europe is the fastest-warming continent and is experiencing serious impacts from extreme weather and climate change.
“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.
“WMO and its partners are therefore intensifying efforts to strengthen early warning systems and climate services to help decision-makers and society at large to be more resilient. We are making progress but need to go further and faster, and we need to go together.”
The urgent need for collective climate action
The ESOTC 2024 offers a damning assessment of climate change in Europe, marked by unprecedented temperatures, deadly floods, and rapidly changing ecosystems.
As Europe continues to warm faster than any other continent, the need for swift, unified action — across governments, industries, and communities — has never been more critical.
Investing in adaptation, scaling up renewable energy, and curbing emissions are not just policy goals; they are existential imperatives for the future of Europe and the generations to come.
