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The climate crisis gripped Europe with full force in 2024, as extreme weather events, ranging from devastating floods to unprecedented wildfires and blistering heatwaves, impacted more than 400,000 people across the continent. According to the European State of the Climate 2024 report, released by the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), last year was the hottest on record for Europe, with fossil fuel-driven warming fuelling a cascade of deadly disasters.
The report highlights how Europe, warming at twice the global average, is already facing the consequences of rising temperatures. In 2024, dramatic scenes of destruction unfolded across the continent as floodwaters tore through cities and wildfires ravaged landscapes.
Deadly Floods Sweep Across the Continent
Flooding was one of the most destructive forces in Europe in 2024, with 30% of the continent’s river network experiencing “high” flows and 12% crossing into “severe” territory. The most tragic incidents occurred in central Europe in September and eastern Spain in October, accounting for more than 250 of the 335 flood-related deaths throughout the year.
Celeste Saulo, director-general of the WMO, stressed the urgency of preparing for a hotter world: “We are making progress but need to go further and faster,” she said. “And we need to go together.” The report also recorded record-high river flows for the Thames in the UK and the Loire in France, an alarming sign of changing hydrological patterns.
Blistering Heatwaves and Record Heat Stress
July 2024 brought southeastern Europe its most prolonged heatwave on record, with more than half the region scorched for 13 consecutive days. Throughout the year, the number of days with “strong,” “very strong,” and “extreme heat stress” was the second-highest ever recorded.
Dr. Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College London and co-lead of World Weather Attribution, highlighted the implications of unchecked global heating: “This report lays bare the pain Europe’s population is already suffering from extreme weather,” she added. “You only need to cast your mind back to the floods in Spain, the fires in Portugal, or the summer heatwaves last year to know how devastating this level of warming would be.” With current warming already reaching 1.3°C above pre-industrial levels, experts say the continent is on track for 3°C of warming by 2100 if emissions continue unabated.
Wildfires Burn Through Tens of Thousands of Hectares
Wildfires affected 42,000 people in 2024, with Portugal bearing the brunt in September. In just one week, wildfires in the country destroyed approximately 110,000 hectares of land—about one-quarter of Europe’s total burnt area for the year.
Froila Palmeiro, a climate scientist at the Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Climate Change, said These extremes directly impact their ecosystems and play a role in weather patterns affecting all of Europe.” Dry spells and intense heat worsened the fires, which were further compounded by wind conditions that made firefighting efforts even more challenging.
Glaciers, Oceans, and Atmospheric Extremes
Glaciers across Europe experienced record-breaking ice loss, particularly in Scandinavia and Svalbard. The report also noted abnormally high temperatures north of the Arctic Circle and recorded the hottest sea surface temperature ever in the Mediterranean.
Such developments reflect Europe’s vulnerability to warming and its cascading effects. The report observed a sharp west-east weather divide, with western Europe tending to be wet and cloudy while eastern parts experienced warm and sunny conditions.
Despite the scientific warnings, climate activists say political responses remain inadequate. A climate campaigner with Greenpeace EU, Thomas Gelin, criticised policymakers for failing to confront fossil fuel companies, “The only parts of Europe that aren’t being boiled dry are being washed away in floods,” he said. “The EU must urgently update its climate targets to reflect the scientific reality, and stop new fossil fuel projects as a first step to a full phase-out.”
Europe has pledged to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and is expected to unveil a 90% reduction target for 2040 later this year. However, as climate impacts grow, those targets may need to become even more ambitious.
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