The year 2024 will go down in the climate history of Europe as one of dramatic contrasts, alarming records, and increasingly visible signs of a planet in transformation. According to the European State of the Climate Report (ESOTC 2024), published by the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Europe experienced its warmest year on record. But it wasn’t just about scorching temperatures: the year was defined by devastating floods, unprecedented glacier loss, extreme heatwaves, and a troubling climate divide between the east and west of the continent.
A continent on fire
Europe is currently the fastest-warming continent on the planet. In 2024, temperature records were broken across nearly half of its territory, especially in Central, Eastern, and Southeastern regions. Southeastern Europe endured the longest heatwave ever recorded, lasting 13 consecutive days of extreme temperatures. Over half the continent experienced numerous days with at least “strong heat stress,” a metric that assesses how heat affects the human body, factoring in humidity and wind. On top of that, there was an average of 12 “tropical nights” throughout the year — nights when temperatures didn’t drop below 20°C — a particularly worrying phenomenon due to its health impacts.
In the words of Carlo Buontempo, director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service: “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.”
Annual surface air temperature anomalies and extremes in 2024. (Left). Annual precipitation anomalies and extremes in 2024 (right). Data: ERA5. Credit: C3S
While Eastern Europe was plagued by drought and blistering heat, the West endured relentless rainfall and overflowing rivers. Nearly one-third of Europe’s river network exceeded the “high flood” threshold, with 12% reaching “severe” levels. It was the year with the most widespread flooding since 2013.
ESOTC 2024/WMO,C3S.
The numbers are chilling: at least 335 people died due to storms and floods, and more than 413,000 were affected. Intensifying storms ravaged entire regions. One of the most destructive, Storm Boris, struck in September, hitting countries like Germany, Poland, Austria, Hungary, and Romania. In Spain, the province of Valencia experienced extreme rainfall in late October, resulting in significant human and material losses.
The great climate divide: Parched East, drenched West
One of the report’s most striking findings is the climate contrast between Eastern and Western Europe. While the East suffered from extreme drought, high solar radiation, and record-breaking heat, the West was cloudier, wetter, and relatively cooler. This polarization was reflected in nearly every meteorological indicator — solar radiation, river flows, soil moisture, and even the potential for renewable energy production.
The climate anomaly map leaves no doubt: Europe is experiencing extreme and simultaneously opposite phenomena, revealing the complexity of climate change in action.
Glaciers in retreat
The retreat of Europe’s glaciers in 2024 was catastrophic. The report highlights that all glaciated regions on the continent lost ice mass. The glaciers in Scandinavia and Svalbard saw their largest losses on record, thinning by 1.8 and 2.7 meters respectively. In a year the United Nations declared the “International Year of Glacier Preservation,” these figures serve as an urgent wake-up call.
ESOTC 2024/WMO,C3S.
In addition, 2024 was the third warmest year in the Arctic overall, and the fourth warmest on Arctic land areas. Svalbard, in particular, has now endured three consecutive summers of record temperatures, making it one of the fastest-warming places on Earth.
Record-breaking renewable energy
Amid this troubling outlook, the report also points to some hopeful progress in the energy transition. In 2024, Europe reached a new record in renewable electricity generation: 45% of its electricity came from solar, wind, and hydropower. This growth is part of a broader push to decarbonize the energy system and adapt to the changing climate. Since 2019, the number of European countries where renewables surpass fossil fuels has nearly doubled — from 12 to 20.
However, even this achievement comes with a catch: renewable output is highly climate-dependent, and the same east-west disparity observed in temperature and precipitation also affected Europe’s solar energy potential.
Policy in motion. But is it enough?
The more political section of the ESOTC 2024 reveals growing institutional awareness: 51% of European cities now have specific climate adaptation plans, up from 26% in 2018. Still, the report makes it clear that while progress has been made, it’s not enough. Extreme weather is testing the resilience of infrastructure, public services, and health systems.
ESOTC 2024/WMO,C3S.
Florence Rabier, Director-General of ECMWF, warned: “Heat stress continues to increase in Europe, highlighting the importance of building greater resilience. With 51% of European cities now having a dedicated climate adaptation plan, this underscores the value of our information, which is rooted in scientific excellence, to better support decision-making around climate adaptation.”
The climate countdown
For decades, scientists have warned that every fraction of a degree matters. Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the WMO, summed it up starkly: “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.”
The 2024 State of the Climate in Europe report doesn't just offer data and charts, it tells a clear and urgent story: the climate crisis is already here. And while there is progress in some areas, the scale of the challenge demands more ambitious, immediate, and coordinated responses.
In a year when nature asserted itself with a mix of fire, water, and melting ice, the ESOTC 2024 message is clear: the time for warnings is over. Now is the time to act.
